Redirect Checker
What Is a Redirect Checker?
A redirect checker traces the complete chain of HTTP redirects from an initial URL to its final destination. When you enter a URL, our tool follows each redirect hop, recording the HTTP status code and destination URL at every step. This reveals the full redirect path, helping you identify unnecessary redirect chains, incorrect redirect types, and potential redirect loops.
HTTP redirects are server responses with a 3xx status code that instruct the browser to navigate to a different URL. The most common types are 301 (Permanent Redirect) and 302 (Temporary Redirect). A 301 tells search engines that the old URL has permanently moved and SEO value should be transferred to the new URL. A 302 indicates a temporary move - search engines keep the original URL indexed and do not transfer link equity. Using the wrong redirect type can significantly impact search rankings.
Redirect chains occur when one URL redirects to another, which redirects to yet another. For example, http://example.com might redirect to https://example.com, which then redirects to https://www.example.com. While each individual redirect is valid, the chain adds latency (each hop requires a full HTTP request-response cycle) and can dilute SEO value. Best practice is to update redirects to point directly to the final destination, reducing chains to a single hop where possible.
Modern HTTP introduced two additional redirect codes: 307 (Temporary Redirect) and 308 (Permanent Redirect). These work like 302 and 301 respectively, but with one important difference - they preserve the original HTTP method. While 301 and 302 may change a POST request to GET (which can break form submissions), 307 and 308 guarantee the same method is used for the redirected request. This distinction matters for APIs and form handlers.
After analyzing redirects, check your site's HTTP security headers to ensure proper HSTS configuration, verify your SSL certificate is valid for all redirect destinations, or measure overall website speed including redirect overhead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an HTTP redirect?
An HTTP redirect is a server response that tells the browser to go to a different URL. The server sends a 3xx status code with a Location header containing the new URL. Redirects are used for URL changes, HTTPS enforcement, www normalization, and URL shorteners.
What is the difference between 301 and 302 redirects?
A 301 redirect means permanent move - search engines transfer SEO value to the new URL. A 302 redirect means temporary move - search engines keep the original URL indexed. Using the wrong type can negatively impact search rankings.
What is a redirect chain?
A redirect chain occurs when one URL redirects to another, which redirects to another, before reaching the final destination. Each hop adds latency and dilutes SEO value. Minimize chains to a single redirect where possible.
How do redirects affect SEO?
301 redirects pass most SEO value from old to new URLs, while 302 redirects may not pass any. Long redirect chains dilute value. Search engines follow up to 5 redirects before giving up. Keep chains as short as possible.
What are 307 and 308 redirects?
307 (Temporary) and 308 (Permanent) are modern redirect codes that preserve the HTTP request method. Unlike 301/302 which may change POST to GET, 307/308 guarantee the same method is used for the redirected request.