Question 1

What is a redirect chain and why is it problematic?

Accepted Answer

A redirect chain occurs when URL A redirects to B, which redirects to C, creating multiple hops before reaching the final destination. Each redirect adds latency (200-500ms), wastes crawl budget, dilutes SEO value (PageRank), and frustrates users. Google recommends maximum 3-5 redirects. Chains often result from site migrations, HTTPS upgrades, or domain changes without updating intermediate redirects.

Question 2

What is the difference between 301 and 302 redirects?

Accepted Answer

301 (Moved Permanently) indicates permanent relocation; search engines transfer SEO value and update indexes. 302 (Found/Temporary) indicates temporary moves; search engines keep original URL indexed and don't transfer full SEO value. Use 301 for permanent changes (domain migrations, HTTPS). Use 302 for A/B testing, maintenance pages, or truly temporary moves. Wrong choice impacts SEO significantly.

Question 3

What are 307 and 308 redirects?

Accepted Answer

307 (Temporary Redirect) and 308 (Permanent Redirect) are HTTP/1.1 successors to 302/301 that preserve the request method (POST, PUT, etc.). Unlike 301/302, which may change POST to GET, 307/308 guarantee method preservation. Use 308 for permanent API endpoint changes requiring method consistency. Browser support is excellent; 307/308 are increasingly preferred for modern applications requiring strict HTTP semantics.

Question 4

How do redirects affect SEO and page speed?

Accepted Answer

Each redirect adds 200-500ms latency, directly impacting Core Web Vitals (LCP, FID). Redirect chains waste crawl budget, potentially leaving important pages unindexed. 301 redirects pass 90-99% of PageRank, but chains dilute this through each hop. Mobile networks experience worse impact. Minimize redirects: update links directly, avoid chains, use server-side over client-side (meta refresh, JavaScript) redirects when possible.

Question 5

What is a redirect loop and how do I fix it?

Accepted Answer

Redirect loops occur when URL A redirects to B, which redirects back to A, creating infinite cycles. Browsers typically stop after 10-20 redirects. Common causes: conflicting .htaccess rules, HTTPS/non-HTTPS misconfigurations, CDN settings conflicting with origin server, WordPress plugin conflicts. Fix by examining redirect rules systematically, testing with curl or browser developer tools, and eliminating circular dependencies.

Question 6

Should I redirect HTTP to HTTPS at the server or CDN level?

Accepted Answer

Redirect at the earliest possible point to minimize latency. CDN/load balancer redirects are fastest, occurring at the edge before reaching origin servers. Server-level redirects work but add round-trip time. Implement HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) headers to eliminate HTTP requests entirely after first visit. Modern best practice: redirect at CDN, enforce HSTS, include in preload list for maximum security and performance.

Question 7

How do I handle redirects during site migrations?

Accepted Answer

Plan redirect mapping carefully: audit old URLs, create 1:1 mappings to new URLs, avoid chains (redirect old URL directly to final destination), test thoroughly before launch. Use 301 redirects for permanent moves. Monitor 404s post-launch and create redirects as needed. Maintain redirects for 1-2 years minimum. Update internal links to avoid redirects. Submit new sitemap to search engines post-migration.

Question 8

What tools help analyze and monitor redirects?

Accepted Answer

Browser developer tools (Network tab) show redirect chains with status codes and timing. Server tools: curl with -L flag, Screaming Frog SEO Spider for site-wide analysis. Online checkers validate individual URLs. SEO tools (Ahrefs, SEMrush) identify redirect issues. Monitor with synthetic monitoring, log analysis, or RUM (Real User Monitoring). Set up alerts for unexpected redirect patterns or increased redirect latency.

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Key Security Terms

HTTP Status Codes

URL Redirection

URL Shortener

Link Rot

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