Redirect Checker
Trace the complete redirect chain for any URL. See every hop and status code.
What is a Redirect Checker?
A redirect checker traces the full chain of HTTP redirects from an initial URL to the final destination. This helps you identify unnecessary redirects that slow down your site, detect redirect loops, and verify that old URLs correctly point to their new locations.
Common HTTP redirect status codes
- 301 — Permanent redirect (passes SEO value)
- 302 — Temporary redirect (does not pass SEO value)
- 307 — Temporary redirect (preserves HTTP method)
- 308 — Permanent redirect (preserves HTTP method)
Why redirects matter for SEO
Every redirect adds latency and can dilute link equity. Long redirect chains (3+ hops) slow down page loads and confuse search engine crawlers. A single clean redirect is always better than a chain.
Redirect best practices
- Use 301 for permanent moves — it tells search engines to transfer ranking power to the new URL
- Use 302 only for genuinely temporary situations (A/B tests, maintenance pages)
- Avoid redirect chains — update old redirects to point directly to the final destination
- After a site migration, check every old URL to make sure it redirects correctly
- Watch for redirect loops — they make pages completely inaccessible
- Update internal links to point to the final URL directly, rather than relying on redirects
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a 301 and 302 redirect?
A 301 is a permanent redirect — it tells search engines to transfer the old URL's ranking power to the new URL. A 302 is temporary — search engines keep the original URL indexed and do not pass the same SEO value. Use 301 for all permanent moves.
Do redirect chains hurt SEO?
Yes. Each additional redirect hop adds latency and dilutes link equity. Google recommends a maximum of one redirect between the original and final URL. Chains of 3 or more hops can slow crawling and meaningfully reduce a page's ranking potential.
What is a redirect loop?
A redirect loop occurs when URL A redirects to URL B which redirects back to URL A — creating a cycle that never resolves. Browsers return an ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS error, making the page completely inaccessible to both users and search engines.
How do I fix a redirect chain?
Update each intermediate redirect to point directly to the final destination URL, bypassing the chain. Also update any internal links or external backlinks you control to point to the final URL, removing the need for the redirect entirely where possible.