Definition
A 301 redirect is an HTTP status code redirect that signals a permanent change from one URL to another. It reroutes visitors and search engines to a different URL from the one they had requested.
301 Redirects Applications
- Switching to HTTPS: If a website switches from HTTP to HTTPS for improved security, 301 redirects ensure users can only access the safer version.
- Domain name changes: If a company switches to a different domain name, it uses 301 redirects to guide visitors to the new domain.
- URL updates for SEO: When a website changes its URL structure to improve SEO, 301 redirects route users to the new URL.
- Product changes: If a newer product replaces the older one, e-commerce sites reroute users to the current one.
- Merged websites: If users combine their websites, they redirect traffic to the merged site.
- Consolidating WWW and non-WWW URLs: A 301 redirect can lead users from a website’s www version to its non-www version or vice versa to ensure consistency.
- Duplicates: If a website has several pages with overlapping content, 301 redirects guide users to a single definitive page.