Question: What is the difference between 301 and 302 redirects?

301 and 302 redirects are HTTP status codes used to inform browsers and search engines that a page has moved to a new location. Understanding the differences between these redirects is crucial for effective website management and SEO optimization.

301 Redirect: Permanent Redirect

A 301 redirect indicates that a webpage has been permanently moved to a new location. This type of redirect passes most of the link equity (ranking power) from the original URL to the new URL. It is commonly used when you have changed your site structure, migrated to a new domain, or want to ensure that users and search engines are directed to the correct page.

Here is an example of how to implement a 301 redirect in an .htaccess file on an Apache server:

Redirect 301 /old-page.html /new-page.html

If you're using Nginx, the configuration would look like this:

server {
    ...
    location /old-page.html {
        return 301 /new-page.html;
    }
    ...
}

302 Redirect: Temporary Redirect

A 302 redirect signals that the move or redirection of the webpage is temporary. Search engines are instructed not to transfer the link equity to the new URL as the change is not permanent. This type of redirect should be used when you expect the original page to be back at its URL soon, such as during maintenance or A/B testing scenarios.

Example of a 302 redirect in an .htaccess file:

Redirect 302 /old-page.html /temporary-page.html

For Nginx servers, you can set up a 302 redirect like this:

server {
    ...
    location /old-page.html {
        return 302 /temporary-page.html;
    }
    ...
}

When to Use Each

• Use a 301 redirect when the content has permanently moved to a new URL.
• Use a 302 redirect when the change is temporary and you plan to bring the original content back at the original URL.

Conclusion

Choosing the right type of redirect is vital for maintaining SEO rankings and ensuring a good user experience. A 301 redirect helps preserve your SEO efforts by passing the majority of link equity to the new URL. In contrast, a 302 redirect is suitable for situations where the change is only temporary, signaling search engines to keep the original URL indexed.