Knowing the various redirect options means knowing how to use the right redirect in every situation and being able to avoid any related SEO or user experience problems.
It is important that you are aware that using the india number whatsapp wrong type of redirect in rare cases can lead to a loss of search engine rankings, as can not implementing redirects at all. If you find yourself in a complex situation and are not sure what type of redirect you should use to avoid problems, or whether you should use them in general, seek advice from an SEO expert.
HTTP Redirect
Probably the most common redirects are HTTP redirects.
Quite simply, as the W3C points out , "An HTTP redirect is a richer way of redirecting, because it gives the user agent more information than just the address: the server also gives information about the type and purpose of the redirect, which allows the user agent to act differently depending on the type of redirect."
It is the information about the type and purpose of the redirect that makes this type of redirect so common, which means you can give different instructions depending on the situation.
But what are the different types of HTTP redirects and how do you choose which one to use in different situations?
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Redirect 301 (permanently moved)
Using a 301 redirect means that the content of the original URL has been permanently moved to a new URL.
Use this type of redirect when you need to direct users and search engines to the location of the new page and you are sure that the original URL will no longer be used.
These are the most common and well-known redirects and are practically the basis of SEO, given their ability to not only direct users but also to transmit PageRank .
This means that, in many cases, these redirects pass on the authority that comes from backlinks, as long as the topic of the new page matches the original .
You can learn more about this in this guide to 301 redirects .
Redirect 302 (temporarily moved)
A 302 redirect takes the user from page A to page B, but it also signals that this redirect is only temporary and the original URL will be restored.
Historically, 302 redirects did not pass PageRank and, as a result, were a recognized cause of SEO issues.
In 2016, it was confirmed that this is no longer the case and that, in fact, the authority is being passed on. Google's John Mueller said:
It is a misconception that 302 redirects do not pass the link's PageRank. This is simply a myth.
—John Mueller, Google
This type of redirect should only be used when the move is only temporary, such as if you are A/B testing a new page template or if you want to redirect users to another URL based on their location and device.
Many SEO experts also believe that if 302 redirects are left for a long time, Google will start treating them as 301s. That said, the purpose and how they are handled is very different, although PageRank is passed in both cases.
When a 301 redirect is present, the URLs are confirmed in Google's indexing. With 302s, however, the original URLs remain indexed and are therefore subject to ranking. Think carefully about whether a move is permanent or just temporary, before implementing 301s and 302s.
These are by far the most common types of redirects, but there are other variations you may come across from time to time.
