301 vs 302 redirects: which one to use, and how to avoid redirect chains
Redirects send visitors and search engines from an old address to a new one. Learn the difference between permanent and temporary redirects and why long chains hurt.
Published · Updated
Put this into practice
What is a redirect?
A redirect is an instruction from your server: this address has moved, go here instead. Visitors usually never notice it. Search engines follow it and use it to decide which address to keep.
Permanent or temporary?
The status code tells search engines how long the move lasts:
- 301 and 308 mean permanent. Use them when a page has moved for good, when you change domain, or when you move from http to https
- 302, 303 and 307 mean temporary. Use them only when the old address will come back, such as a short maintenance page
Why do redirect chains matter?
A chain happens when address A redirects to B, which redirects to C. Each step adds delay for the visitor and one more thing that can break. Point every old address straight at the final one, and update your own links so they use the final address too.
What should you check?
- The http version of your site redirects to https in a single step
- www and non-www both end up on one preferred version
- Old pages you removed redirect to the closest relevant page, not always to the home page
- No redirect loops, where two addresses send visitors back and forth
Frequently asked questions
Does a 301 redirect lose ranking?
Search engines say a permanent redirect passes the signals of the old page to the new one. Keep the redirect in place for a long time, and do not rely on it as a shortcut.
What happens if I use 302 by mistake?
Search engines may keep treating the old address as the main one for longer. For permanent moves, switch it to 301 or 308.