A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect from one URL to another.
It tells browsers and search engines: “This page moved. Use the new URL.”
301s matter for SEO because they help preserve signals when you change URLs.
When you should use a 301 ✅
- You changed a URL/permalink
- You merged two pages into one
- You removed a page and have a relevant replacement
- You are fixing URL variants (www/non-www, http/https)
If you don’t redirect, you create broken links and can cause duplicate content or lost rankings.
301 redirect FAQ 🙋
What is a 301 redirect?
A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect from one URL to another. It tells search engines to use the new URL.
What’s the difference between 301 and 302?
301 is permanent. 302 is temporary. For SEO moves, 301 is usually the right choice.
Do 301 redirects pass SEO value?
In most cases, yes. Proper 301 redirects help transfer signals from the old URL to the new URL.
When should I avoid redirecting?
Avoid redirecting to irrelevant pages. If there’s no close replacement, a 404 can be better than a misleading redirect.
Can redirects cause issues?
Yes. Chains (A→B→C) and loops cause problems. Keep redirects direct and update internal links to the final URL.
Back to the dictionary.