What is a 301 and 302 redirect?

A 301 and 302 redirect are redirects that send visitors and search engines from one URL to another. The difference lies in the intent: a 301 is a permanent move, a 302 is temporary. Choosing the right one matters, because it tells Google which URL to keep showing in the search results.

301: permanent

You use a 301 redirect when a page has moved or been replaced for good. The old URL disappears and its link value passes to the new URL. This is the standard when you change URLs, merge pages or migrate a website.

302: temporary

You use a 302 redirect when a redirect is temporary, for example during maintenance or for a campaign page. Search engines then keep the old URL in the index, because it will come back later. If you use a 302 by mistake where a 301 belongs, Google may keep showing the old URL for longer.

Redirects and SEO

Correct redirects prevent 404 errors and protect your positions when things change. Avoid long chains of redirects, because they slow down your site and make it harder for Google to crawl. Redirects are an important part of technical SEO.

When do I use a 301 or a 302?

Moved permanently: 301. Redirected temporarily: 302. If in doubt, a 301 is usually the safe choice for SEO.

Does all the value pass on with a 301?

Google has said that 301 redirects no longer lose PageRank, so the link value passes on, provided the new page is a close match for the old one.