A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect from one URL to another. It is a way to tell search engines and users that a URL has been moved to a new location and that the old URL should be replaced with the new one.
When a user enters a URL that has been redirected with a 301 redirect, their browser will automatically redirect them to the new URL. The 301 status code is a permanent redirect, meaning that it is a permanent change and not a temporary one.
301 redirects are often used when a website is moving to a new domain or when a URL is being changed. They can also be used to redirect users from an old URL to a new one that is more relevant or up-to-date.
Here are some examples of 301 redirects:
- Domain change: If a website is moving from one domain to another, a 301 redirect can be used to redirect users from the old domain to the new one. For example, if a website is moving from “olddomain.com” to “newdomain.com”, a 301 redirect can be set up to redirect users from “olddomain.com” to “newdomain.com”.
- URL change: If a URL is being changed, a 301 redirect can be used to redirect users from the old URL to the new one. For example, if a URL is being changed from “oldurl.html” to “newurl.html”, a 301 redirect can be set up to redirect users from “oldurl.html” to “newurl.html”.
- Multiple redirects: A 301 redirect can also be used to redirect users from multiple old URLs to a single new URL. For example, if a website has multiple old URLs that need to be redirected to a single new URL, a 301 redirect can be set up to redirect users from all of the old URLs to the new URL.
It’s important to note that 301 redirects can take some time to take effect, as they require a delay before they are processed by search engines. Additionally, it’s important to test 301 redirects carefully to ensure that they are working correctly and not causing any issues with search engine rankings or user experience.