Websites · Glossary
What is a 301 redirect?
A 301 redirect is an HTTP response with status code 301 Moved Permanently and a Location header naming the new address. Browsers go to the new address, and search engines treat it as a strong signal that the new URL should replace the old one in results, carrying the old page's links with it.
Use a 301 whenever a page or a whole site moves for good. It keeps old links, bookmarks and printed addresses working and tells search engines which address to show.
Indunil Asanka · Co-founder
4 min read · Published
| Code | Meaning | Keeps the request method | Search engines treat it as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 301 | Moved Permanently | Not guaranteed; browsers may change POST to GET | Permanent: show the new URL |
| 302 | Found (temporary) | Not guaranteed | Temporary: keep showing the old URL |
| 307 | Temporary Redirect | Yes | Temporary |
| 308 | Permanent Redirect | Yes | Permanent: show the new URL |
What it is
When a browser asks for a URL, the server answers with a status code. Codes in the 300 range tell the browser to look elsewhere, and the Location header says where. RFC 9110, the HTTP semantics standard, defines 301 as moved permanently: the resource has a new address and future requests should use it. Browsers follow the redirect automatically and may cache it, so a returning visitor goes straight to the new address without asking the old one again. Search engines follow it too and, over time, swap the old URL for the new one in their index.
How it differs from the others
A 302 or 307 says the move is temporary, so search engines keep the original URL in results. A 308 is the permanent twin of 307: it promises the browser keeps the same method and body, which matters for form posts and APIs. For ordinary page moves, 301 and 308 behave the same for visitors, and Google's documentation lists both as permanent server side redirects that it treats as a strong canonical signal. Meta refresh tags and JavaScript redirects also work, but search engines read them less reliably than a server side status code.
When it matters
Any time an address changes: renaming a page, merging two pages, moving from an old domain to a new one, moving from HTTP to HTTPS, or choosing between the bare domain and www. Without a redirect, every link from other sites, every bookmark and every QR code on a flyer leads to a not found page, and the search ranking the old page earned starts again from nothing. Redirects are also how a business with several domains, such as a .com and a .com.au, sends everyone to one main address.
Common mistakes
Using a temporary 302 for a permanent move, so search engines keep the old URL. Redirecting every old page to the home page instead of to its closest new page, which search engines treat like a missing page. Building chains, where A goes to B which goes to C, slowing visitors and diluting signals. Creating loops. Removing redirects a few weeks after a move, while old links still exist. And redirecting to a page that itself carries a noindex tag, which removes both pages from search.
Where it shows up in OneCraft
Every OneCraft site has a free address on onecraft.live. Renaming a live site keeps the old address working as a redirect for 30 days, so links have time to be updated. With custom domains, the first domain you add is primary and other live hosts redirect to it, which keeps one main address for visitors and search engines. Custom domains need a paid plan.
Questions people ask
Does a 301 redirect lose SEO value?
Google has said permanent redirects pass ranking signals to the new URL, so a well planned 301 keeps most of what the old page earned. Value is lost when redirects point to unrelated pages, form long chains, or are removed too early. Point each old URL at its closest new equivalent.
How long should I keep a 301 redirect?
As long as possible, and at least a year. Search engines need time to recrawl, and links on other sites, emails and printed material keep sending people to the old address for years. Keeping a redirect costs almost nothing, while removing it turns every remaining link into a dead end.
What is the difference between a 301 and a canonical tag?
A 301 sends people and crawlers to the new address, so the old page is no longer visible. A canonical tag leaves both pages reachable and only suggests which one search engines should show. Use a redirect when a page has moved, and a canonical when similar pages must both stay available.
Can I 301 redirect a whole domain?
Yes. Point the old domain at a server or host that answers every request with a 301 to the same path on the new domain, so old page addresses land on their new equivalents. Keep the old domain registered, because letting it lapse lets someone else take it and its links.
How do I check if a redirect is a 301?
Use your browser's developer tools on the Network tab, or run curl -I with the old URL in a terminal, and look at the status line and the Location header. Online redirect checkers show the whole chain, which helps you spot a 302 or a loop hiding in the middle.
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Written and checked by the OneCraft team. Last checked .