What is 301 redirect?
What is 301 redirect?
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26-Nov-2020
Updated on 25-Feb-2025
Khushi Singh
25-Feb-2025A 301 redirect permanently redirects users from an initial URL to a new destination URL which indicates a webpage moved permanently to the new address. A 301 redirect that browsers or search engines detect automatically reroutes users together with search engine crawlers to the specified new URL. Guests visiting your site will avoid encountering broken pages since redirection ensures both user satisfaction and better search engine rankings.
The implementation of a 301 redirect lets you successfully transfer much of the SEO-related value from the previous URL to the new destination. A 301 redirect serves as an essential functionality to apply during domain relocation and website URL reorganization and when consolidating multiple pages into a single page or when resolving broken links. Outdated URLs cause 404 errors that create negative effects on search engine positions and user experience when redirection is not properly applied.
Web servers or content management system (CMS) software platforms provide different procedures to implement 301 redirects. The
.htaccessfile contains Apache server configuration whereas Nginx requires server configuration settings. The WordPress CMS along with other systems provide plugins for simple redirect management.Search engines permanently update their index with new URLs through 301 redirects whereas temporary 302 redirects do not achieve this effect. Eligible search engines maintain their ranking of your site and avoid duplicate content problems with this redirect strategy. The 301 redirect permanently keeps search engines updated with new URL links and maintains the influence of incoming links toward the website's domain authority.
Seamless user experience depends entirely on proper 301 redirect implementation for website traffic retention as well as search engine visibility maintenance. Website management benefits from this standard practice which directs both users and search engines to the right webpage particularly during site update or migration periods.