What Is a 301 Redirect?
A 301 redirect is a permanent HTTP redirect that automatically sends users and search engines from one URL to a different one, signaling that the original URL’s content has moved for good.
When to Use One
Use a 301 whenever a page permanently moves — during a site migration, a URL structure change, merging two pages into one, or retiring an old page in favor of a newer, more relevant replacement. It’s the correct choice any time you want the original URL’s authority and traffic to transfer to the new destination.
How It Affects SEO
A 301 passes the vast majority of the original page’s link equity to the new URL, which is why it’s strongly preferred over simply deleting a page or leaving it to 404. Search engines will typically update their index to reflect the new URL over time, and well-implemented 301s cause minimal, if any, long-term ranking disruption.
