Does a 301 pass SEO value?

Yes. Modern search engines pass essentially all ranking signals through a 301 to the destination URL, which is why it's preferred for permanent moves.

Why avoid 302 for permanent moves?

Search engines keep the original URL indexed and may not transfer link equity, so the new URL struggles to rank.

Can redirect chains hurt me?

Yes. Each extra hop adds latency and can dilute signals. Point redirects straight to the final URL and audit chains regularly.

301 vs 302 Redirect

301 and 302 are HTTP redirect status codes that both send a browser to a new URL, but they signal very different intent. A 301 says "this moved permanently"; a 302 says "this is temporary, keep using the original." Search engines treat them accordingly.

Getting this wrong hurts SEO. Use a 302 for a permanent move and you may fail to pass link equity to the new URL; use a 301 for a temporary change and search engines may drop the original from their index.

At a glance

Aspect	301 Redirect	302 Redirect
Meaning	Permanent move	Temporary move
SEO link equity	Passes to the new URL	Stays with the original
Caching	Cached aggressively by browsers	Not cached by default
Index effect	New URL replaces old in index	Original URL stays indexed
Best for	Domain changes, permanent URL updates	A/B tests, maintenance, promos

When to use 301 Redirect

You've permanently moved a page or changed domains.
You want the new URL to inherit ranking signals.
You're consolidating duplicate URLs for good.

When to use 302 Redirect

The change is temporary — maintenance, a sale, or a test.
You want the original URL to keep its search presence.
You'll restore the original destination soon.

Verdict

Default to 301 for anything permanent so link equity flows to the destination, and reserve 302 for genuinely temporary situations. Because browsers cache 301s hard, test carefully before deploying one — an accidental permanent redirect is painful to undo. Always check the full redirect chain to avoid loops and unnecessary hops.

Frequently asked questions

Related free tools

HTTP Status Code Checker

Check the live HTTP status code of any URL, including its redirect chain and meaning.

Open Tool

Redirect Chain Checker

Trace every redirect a URL follows, with status codes, timing and the final destination.

Open Tool

Bulk URL Status Checker

Check the live HTTP status of up to 20 URLs at once, with redirects and timing per link.

Open Tool