HTTP status codes 301 and 302
In web development, HTTP protocols and it's status codes play a crucial role in communicating the outcome of a client's request to servers and browsers. There are standard guidelines for HTTP protocol's status codes, HTTP protocol manage it's status code in series on the based of response behavior. such series are 2xx, 3xx, 4xx, 5xx, and so on. Series 3xx is signify used for redirection.
HTTP status codes 301 and 302 both are used to inform clients (typically web browsers) that the requested resource has been moved temporarily or permanently to a different URL. Both are used for redirection but you should know differences before selecting any one of them for you website redirection. If you select wrong type of redirection this will negatively impact your SEO and search rankings of your website. To avoid this it's best to understand what the redirects are and when to use them.
HTTP Status Code 301 (Moved Permanently)
Status code 301 is used for permanent redirection. that means in this type of redirection requested resource or page has been moved permanently to the new resource or page. 301 redirects allow browsers and search engine to cache the new URL address so that the next request for the original URL will automatically redirected to the new URL without contacting the original server. but the initial changes may take longer than 302 redirect.
- Purpose of 301 redirection is to redirect user to new URL permanently.
- Behavior Or Caching : It allows browsers and search engines to cache the new URL so that next request for original URL will automatically redirected to the new URL without contacting the original server.
- SEO search engines like Google will transfer the SEO (such as page rank , index etc) from the old URL to the new URL.
- It is useful , If you want to permanently migrate your content to a new domain.
- It is useful, if you want to switch your website from HTTP to HTTPS.
- It is useful, if you are planning to permanently change the URL structure used on your website.
- It is useful, if you want to fix non-www or www duplicate content problems.
HTTP Status Code 302 (Redirect Temporarily)
Status code 302 is used for temporary redirection. that means in this type of redirection requested resource or page has been moved temporarily to the new resource or page. 302 redirection did not allow browsers to cache the new URL address. It only informs the client (typically a web browser) that the resource is temporarily unavailable at the current URL and provides the new URL where it can be found without affecting SEO rankings of the current URL.
- Purpose of 302 redirection is to redirect user to new URL temporarily.
- Behavior Or Caching : It did not allow browser or search engine to cache new URL. that means every original request will come to server first, after that redirected to new URL.
- SEO : In this type of redirection there will be no impact on original page SEO.
- It is useful for temporary maintenance or updates of your page. You can take user to some other URL until your page is under maintenance, after completing maintenance you can keep user on original page.
- It is useful for temporary promotion where you want to redirect your website’s visitors to a unique sales page.
- It is useful to ab test more than one variant of page.
- It is very helpful, where you want to receive temporary feedback or test a new design with different URL without impacting original page ranking.
Some important points of 301 and 302 redirection
- 302 redirects are handled very quickly, but 301 redirects are not.
- If you accidentally use the 301 redirect and need to go back to your old URL. It will take months for the search engine to notice the changes.
- To rank a new URL in place of old URL permanently, a 301 redirect is the right choice. But if you are planning to switch back, a 302 redirect is better.
- Depending on your goals you can select a temporary or a permanent redirection.