A 302 redirect is a short lived strategy to divert customers from one web page in your website to a distinct web page.
It’s necessary for website positioning as a result of it means that you can ship site visitors to a distinct web page whereas sustaining the key phrase rankings and hyperlink worth of the unique web page.
On this information, we’ll clarify when, why, and find out how to use 302s correctly.
How Do 302 Redirects Work?
A 302 redirect is kind of like an out-of-office message.
It’s not a everlasting change of tackle. But it surely helps make sure that customers and bots can nonetheless entry your website if a selected web page or useful resource is unavailable.
A 302 can enhance person expertise (UX) in your web site by ensuring customers don’t land on pages which are outdated, lacking performance, or beneath building.
This HTTP response standing code (302 – Discovered) signifies a web page has been moved. Anybody making an attempt to entry this web page is mechanically redirected to the brand new web page whereas the 302 is in impact.
301 Redirects vs. 302 Redirects
Do you have to use a 301 or a 302 redirect? It is a frequent query.
Here is the distinction:
A 301 redirect is a everlasting redirect.
A 302 redirect is a short lived redirect.
Implement a 301 redirect to make everlasting modifications to your web site. For instance, if you happen to completely transfer the content material from instance.com/page-1 to instance.com/page-2.
You need to inform customers and search engine bots that your outdated web page not exists and so they can discover the content material at a brand new tackle.
In any other case, a 302 redirection works for momentary use instances.
For instance, you’d use a 302 for issues like: A/B testing, momentary sale pages, or web site upkeep.
We’ll cowl extra examples of when to make use of a 302 under.
302 vs. 301 for website positioning
From an website positioning perspective, 301 redirects are useful for consolidating and preserving “hyperlink fairness” or “hyperlink juice,” because it’s generally referred to as. A 301 prompts search engines like google and yahoo to deal with backlinks pointing to the outdated web page as in the event that they now level to the brand new web page.
Due to this, it’s finest follow to make use of a 301 redirect for addressing website positioning points like combining duplicate content material or making everlasting URL modifications.
However utilizing a 302 as a substitute is mostly not catastrophic.
Google treats each varieties of redirect in nearly the identical approach, in keeping with Google Search Advocate John Mueller. They use different alerts to find out if the unique URL or the brand new URL must be canonical.
If it turns into clear {that a} “momentary redirect” is supposed to be everlasting, they’ll often determine that out over time and deal with it accordingly.
When to Use a 302 Redirect
An important phrase in relation to 302 redirects?
Non permanent.
If you happen to’re ever uncertain whether or not a 302 is the precise selection, simply ask your self if you happen to’re implementing a short lived change or a everlasting change.
There’s no precise period of time that constitutes “momentary.” However Google recommends utilizing a everlasting redirect when, “you are positive that the redirect will not be reverted.”
This implies you probably ought to use a 302 in some other case.
For instance:
Web site Upkeep or Redesign
You’re engaged on a giant replace to your web page at www.instance.com/my-page and don’t need anybody to see it earlier than it’s prepared.
Use a 302 redirect to ship guests elsewhere whereas it’s beneath building.
A/B Testing
You’re testing a brand new model of a touchdown web page to see if it outperforms the present web page.
You’ll need to ship a sure proportion of your site visitors from the present web page (instance.com/page-1) to the take a look at model (instance.com/page-2).
Use a 302 redirect as a result of this can be a momentary experiment and the web page hasn’t moved completely.
Non permanent Promotional Pages
You’re operating a limited-time sale and constructed a particular web page only for that function.
When somebody clicks on “Footwear,” you need to ship them to your new particular promotion web page (instance.com/shoe-sale) whereas the sale is operating.
Once more: Non permanent = 302.
(Simply remember to take away the redirect when the sale ends.)
Stay Testing
You’re creating a brand new web site circulation the place customers will take a distinct path to seek out data or carry out an motion. You need to take a look at the brand new circulation from the dwell web site earlier than it’s launched completely.
Use a 302 to ship site visitors from instance.com/web page to instance.com/page-test and get suggestions or accumulate knowledge briefly.
Then both completely redirect or change the contents of the web page when you’re able to deploy this replace.
Methods to Implement a 302 Redirect
If you happen to’ve learn by way of these situations and decided that 302 is the precise name, it’s time to implement it correctly.
Watch out to observe the directions intently and solely make modifications that you simply’re assured you may repair if one thing goes mistaken!
WordPress
Implementing a 302 WordPress redirect is straightforward with the precise plugin. However even and not using a plugin, you may implement them straight—with the precise information.
Yoast website positioning Premium Plugin
The Yoast website positioning redirect supervisor means that you can shortly add or take away 302 redirects. You’ll want a Yoast Premium subscription.
From the WordPress sidebar:
“Yoast website positioning” > “Redirects.”
Then fill within the fields:
Kind = 302
Previous URL = The URL of the unique web page with out the basis area (e.g., “/page-1”)
URL = The URL of the brand new web page with out the basis area (e.g., “/page-2”)
Click on “Add Redirect.”
Redirection Plugin
Redirection is one other extraordinarily common WordPress plugin that makes it easy to implement or take away 302s.
From the WordPress sidebar:
“Instruments” > “Redirection.”
From the “Redirects” web page, discover the “Add new redirection” kind.
Fill within the fields:
Supply URL = The URL of the unique web page with out the basis area (e.g., “/page-1”)
Goal URL = The URL of the brand new web page with out the basis area (e.g., “/page-2”)
HTTP code = 302
Then click on “Add Redirect.”
Rank Math Plugin
Rank Math is one other common website positioning plugin that makes it simple to implement a 302.
From the WordPress sidebar:
“Rank Math” > “Redirections.”
From the “Redirections” web page, click on “Add New.”
Supply URLs = The URL of the unique web page with out the basis area (e.g., “/page-1”)
Vacation spot URL = The URL of the brand new web page with out the basis area (e.g., “/page-2”)
Redirection Kind = 302 Non permanent Transfer
Then click on “Add Redirection.”
PHP Redirects
Warning: This selection would require you to edit your theme recordsdata and PHP code. It’s solely really useful for superior WordPress customers snug with making a lot of these edits.
If you happen to don’t need to add considered one of these plugins, you may implement the redirect manually.
It’s doable to implement a 302 redirect both server aspect (see Apache, Nginx, and Home windows Server choices under) or straight within the PHP header.
You’d add some code like this to the very high of your PHP header earlier than any HTML or echo capabilities:
<?php
// Verify if the requested web page is page-1
if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'] === '/page-1') {
// Redirect from instance.com/page-1 to instance.com/page-2
header("HTTP/1.1 302 Discovered");
header("Location: http://instance.com/page-2");
exit;
}
?>
On this instance, we’re redirecting from instance.com/page-1 to instance.com/page-2.
As you may in all probability think about, implementing or sustaining various of those particular redirects in PHP might get a bit messy. But it surely’s doable.
Apache
Warning: This 302 redirect methodology is barely meant for consultants. Errors right here could cause huge issues on your web site. If you happen to’re not an skilled, proceed with excessive warning or attain out to an skilled who might help.
In case your web site is hosted on an Apache server, then you may implement redirects by modifying the .htaccess file in your WordPress root listing.
First, guarantee that mod_rewrite is enabled. Then use the RewriteEngine to configure your redirects.
Redirect a Single Web page
If you happen to simply must redirect one web page to a brand new web page, you may write code like this:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^page-1$ /page-2 [R=302,L]
It will redirect a web page that precisely matches the URL /page-1 to /page-2.
It’s price noting that you can additionally use mod_alias for simplified redirects:
Redirect 302 /page-1 /page-2
Redirect an Total Listing
If you wish to briefly redirect a whole listing, you are able to do that both by redirecting every web page to a selected new URL throughout the new listing:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^old-directory/(.*)$ /new-directory/$1 [R=302,L]
This code, for instance, would redirect /old-directory/page-1 to /new-directory/page-1.
Or you may redirect all pages inside that listing to a single new web page:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^old-directory/(.*)$ /new-page [R=302,L]
This RewriteRule would redirect each /old-directory/page-1 and /old-directory/page-2 to the brand new URL, /new-page.
Nginx
Warning: This 302 redirect methodology is barely meant for consultants. Errors right here could cause huge issues on your web site. If you happen to’re not an skilled, proceed with excessive warning or attain out to an skilled who might help.
Nginx redirects are configured within the .conf file, sometimes discovered within the root listing of your server.
Redirect a Single Web page
server {
pay attention 80;
server_name instance.com;
location /page-1 {
rewrite ^ /page-2 redirect;
}
# different location blocks and configuration...
}
It will redirect /page-1 to /page-2.
Redirect an Total Listing
Redirect all pages from one listing to a brand new web page in a brand new listing.
server {
pay attention 80;
server_name instance.com;
location ~* ^/old-directory/ {
rewrite ^/old-directory/(.*)$ /new-directory/$1 redirect;
}
# different location blocks and configuration...
}
E.g., /old-directory/page-1 redirects to /new-directory/page-1 and /old-directory/page-2 redirects to /new-directory/page-2.
Redirect all pages from one listing to a single new location:
server {
pay attention 80;
server_name instance.com;
location ~* ^/old-directory/ {
rewrite ^/old-directory/(.*)$ /new-page redirect;
}
# different location blocks and configuration...
}
E.g., each /old-directory/page-1 and /old-directory/page-2 redirect to the brand new URL, /new-page.
Home windows Server with ASP.NET
Warning: This 302 redirect methodology is barely meant for consultants. Errors right here could cause huge issues on your web site. If you happen to’re not an skilled, proceed with excessive warning or attain out to an skilled who might help.
On a Home windows server, redirects are configured within the net.config file.
Redirect a Single Web page
<configuration>
<system.webServer>
<rewrite>
<guidelines>
<rule title="Redirect page-1 to page-2" stopProcessing="true">
<match url="^page-1$" />
<motion kind="Redirect" url="/page-2" redirectType="Discovered" />
</rule>
</guidelines>
</rewrite>
</system.webServer>
</configuration>
It will redirect /page-1 to /page-2.
Redirect an Total Listing
Redirect all pages from one listing to a brand new web page in a brand new listing.
<configuration>
<system.webServer>
<rewrite>
<guidelines>
<rule title="Redirect old-directory to new-directory" stopProcessing="true">
<match url="^old-directory/(.*)" />
<motion kind="Redirect" url="/new-directory/{R:1}" redirectType="Discovered" />
</rule>
</guidelines>
</rewrite>
</system.webServer>
</configuration>
E.g., /old-directory/page-1 redirects to /new-directory/page-1 and /old-directory/page-2 redirects to /new-directory/page-2.
Redirect all pages from one listing to a single new location:
<configuration>
<system.webServer>
<rewrite>
<guidelines>
<rule title="Redirect old-directory to new-page" stopProcessing="true">
<match url="^old-directory/(.*)" />
<motion kind="Redirect" url="/new-page" redirectType="Discovered" />
</rule>
</guidelines>
</rewrite>
</system.webServer>
</configuration>
E.g., each /old-directory/page-1 and /old-directory/page-2 redirect to the brand new URL, /new-page.
The Influence of 302 Redirects on website positioning
Optimistic website positioning Impacts
Needless to say 302 redirects usually are not supposed to repair or enhance technical website positioning points your web site is experiencing.
A 302 redirect is meant to enhance the person expertise in momentary conditions.
In contrast to a 301, momentary redirects usually are not thought of finest follow for:
- Consolidating duplicate content material
- Correcting canonical URL points
- Redirecting www to non-www variations of the identical web page
- Tidying up your website’s structure
However implementing a 302 can protect your hyperlinks and rankings when a webpage is briefly unavailable or beneath upkeep. With out utilizing a 302, your web page might be listed with usability points or incomplete content material, which might damage your website positioning.
However it might probably have a unfavorable impression if carried out incorrectly.
Unfavorable website positioning Impacts
In idea, utilizing 302s incorrectly might create points on your web site’s website positioning.
As an illustration, it might trigger the mistaken model of a web page to be listed and seem within the SERPs (search engine outcomes pages).
In actuality?
The unfavorable impacts would probably be small and momentary.
Google treats a 302 redirect as, “a weak sign that the redirect goal must be canonical.”
In plain language: When there’s a 302, Google will often present the unique URL within the SERPs reasonably than the brand new URL.
That is what you count on from a 302.
However, if there are different alerts that point out the brand new URL is definitely the “essential” model of this content material (the canonical URL), it might be handled extra like a everlasting redirect.
On this case, Google would present the new URL within the SERPs as a substitute of the unique.
So, even when a 302 is incorrectly utilized, there’s a fairly good probability that Google will determine it out anyway.
But it surely might nonetheless trigger a short lived situation together with your website, rankings, and site visitors.
Plus it’s finest follow to make use of the proper kind of redirection if doable.
5 Frequent Points with 302 Redirects
1: Utilizing a 302 for Everlasting Modifications
Maybe the commonest mistake is utilizing a 302 for a everlasting change.
As we’ve mentioned, 302s are supposed to be momentary.
If you happen to use a 302 to redirect a web page and the change turns into everlasting, it’s finest follow to replace the redirect to a 301.
You possibly can simply establish any pages with 302s utilizing Semrush’s Web site Audit device.
From the left-hand menu, click on “Web site Audit” beneath “On Web page & Tech website positioning.”
In case your website isn’t already listed beneath “Tasks,” enter your root area to have Semrush crawl and audit your web site.
As soon as the audit is full, click on on the “Venture” title and search for the “Crawled Pages” report beneath “Web site Well being.”
Click on the quantity proven on the “Redirects” line to open a report of pages that return a redirect HTTP standing code.
Evaluation the checklist of URLs with redirects and see if any of them return a 302.
Professional tip: You possibly can apply an HTTP Standing Code filter to this report back to solely see pages that return a “3xx momentary” standing code.
If there are 302 redirects that shouldn’t exist, that probably means they’ve been configured by one other member of your staff or somebody who labored on the location previously.
If the redirection isn’t obligatory or is configured incorrectly (e.g., it is a everlasting change reasonably than momentary), you’ll want to analyze how they’re carried out to make changes.
Confer with the steps within the “Methods to Implement a 302 Redirect” part above.
You possibly can start by wanting in your WordPress or CMS admin panel. If you happen to’re not capable of finding the 302s listed within the report, then think about consulting with somebody who can verify for server-side implementation.
Be aware: You additionally need to keep away from utilizing a 301 for modifications which are solely momentary. You possibly can establish these points by utilizing the Web site Audit device that we simply went by way of. If you happen to establish a web page that’s been redirected completely in error, take away the 301 and implement a short lived redirect as a substitute.
2: Redirect Chains
Redirect chains happen when one web page has a 302 that factors to a different web page, which has a 302 that factors to a different web page.
Like this:
/page-1 has a 302 that factors to /page-2.
/page-2 has a 302 that factors to /page-3.
The person bounces from one web page to the following. After which the following. (After which the following.)
This will create website efficiency points like gradual web page load speeds.
Plus, it’s simply dangerous follow.
Utilizing the Semrush Web site Audit device, you may simply establish redirect chains you might want to repair.
From inside Semrush:
Click on “Web site Audit” beneath “On Web page & Tech website positioning.”
Click on in your website’s URL beneath “Venture.” Or enter your area to create a undertaking if it’s not already listed.
(If you happen to create the undertaking from scratch, you’ll kind in your root area and Semrush will crawl and audit your website. As soon as the crawl is full, click on on the location’s URL beneath “Venture.”)
From the “Venture Dashboard,” click on “View full report” beneath the “Web site Audit” part.
Now click on the “Points” tab:
The “Errors” checklist will present you all the points Semrush discovered in your website. On this checklist, you’ll discover an entry for “redirect chains and loops” if any have been detected.
Click on on the checklist merchandise to open the complete report.
When you’ve recognized any redirect chains, you may merely replace the 302 redirects which are in place to level to the ultimate goal URL and skip the extra redirect steps.
3: Redirect Loops (Too Many Redirects)
If in case you have an incorrectly configured redirect, you could run right into a redirect loop.
A redirect loop is when your 302s maintain sending customers forwards and backwards between two or extra pages.
For instance:
/page-1 has a 302 that factors to /page-2.
/page-2 has a 302 that factors again to /page-1.
The browser gained’t know which web page to point out. You’ll obtain an ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS or “too many redirects” error and see a web page that appears like this in Google Chrome:
You possibly can establish and troubleshoot this drawback utilizing the Semrush Web site Audit device.
From the left-hand menu, click on “Web site Audit” beneath “On Web page & Tech website positioning.”
In case your website’s not listed on the “Web site Audit” web page, kind in your root area to run a crawl and audit.
As soon as the crawl is full, click on on the location’s URL beneath “Venture.”
(In case your website’s already listed beneath “Venture,” click on the URL.)
From the “Venture Dashboard,” click on “View full report” beneath the “Web site Audit” part.
Now click on the “Points” tab:
The “Errors” checklist will present you if Semrush detected a redirect chain or loop.
Click on the checklist to see the complete checklist and discover any redirect loops.
If you happen to’ve carried out 302 redirects and also you’re receiving this error, it in all probability means there’s a drawback with the configuration.
Listed below are some issues to search for:
- Conflicting redirects. Did you by chance create redirects that try to ship customers from one web page to a number of completely different pages? Or do you’ve got redirects that time towards one another? Evaluation the redirects intently for conditions the place they might create a battle.
- Conflicting plugins. If you happen to’re utilizing a redirect plugin or third-party device, it’s doable that the plugins are conflicting with each other. Attempt disabling them separately and see if it fixes the problem.
If you happen to haven’t carried out a redirect and also you’re receiving this error, then it could be a neighborhood or client-side drawback. Which means that the redirect is configured accurately on the server however one thing on the person’s aspect is inflicting a problem.
Attempt:
- Clear browser cache and cookies. It’s doable for a redirect directive to be cached even when it’s not used. Caching points can even stem from a CDN or different community configuration that may require extra troubleshooting.
- Disable browser extensions. In some instances, your browser extensions can set off redirects and break particular pages.
4: Leaving 302 Redirects in Place
Merely put: Don’t overlook to take away 302s after they’re not wanted.
Maintaining it in place for an prolonged time period may lead search engines like google and yahoo to deal with it as a everlasting redirect. It might additionally create a poor person expertise.
Run a daily Web site Audit with Semrush to be sure to don’t overlook to take away any redirects after a short lived web site change.
5: Dropping URL Parameters Throughout Redirect
In some instances, you want a redirect to move particular URL parameters or monitoring codes to the brand new URL the place you’re sending your guests.
For instance, if you happen to’re utilizing a selected UTM conference for monitoring guests as they transfer throughout your web site. Or in case your search and filter performance passes specs by way of URL parameters.
Relying on the way you’ve carried out the redirects, they might or could not move parameters from the unique URL to the brand new vacation spot.
To repair this, you’ll want to regulate the configuration in your redirect plugin and/or use Common Expressions (RegEx) to parse the parameters from the unique URL. Then move them on when the person is redirected.
FAQs About 302 Redirects
What Is the Distinction Between a 302 Redirect and a 301 Redirect?
A 302 redirect is for momentary modifications to your web site like a web page that’s beneath building or A/B testing. A 301 redirect is for everlasting modifications like a content material being moved from an outdated URL to a brand new URL.
What Is the Good thing about a 302 Redirect?
The first use for a 302 redirect is to enhance your website’s person expertise. You possibly can briefly ship customers to a brand new URL to ensure they don’t land on pages which are outdated, incomplete, or beneath building. It could actually additionally protect the rankings and hyperlink worth of the unique URL whereas the redirect is in place.
How Can I Set Up a 302 Redirect On My Web site?
If you happen to’re utilizing WordPress and most typical CMSs, you may implement a 302 utilizing a plugin or extension. In different instances, you’ll must configure the redirect on the server aspect.
How Does Google Deal with 302 Redirects?
Google treats a 302 redirect in a lot the identical approach as a 301. Nevertheless, in instances the place it’s seen as a short lived change, they’ll proceed to point out the unique URL (not the brand new URL) within the SERP.
On this case, they gained’t move PageRank or hyperlinks to the brand new URL until it turns into clear that the change is most certainly everlasting.
Can 302 Redirects Damage My website positioning?
Sure. If you happen to incorrectly use a 302 redirect, it might probably negatively impression your search rankings and site visitors. For instance, it might trigger the mistaken model of your web page to be listed and result in a drop in rankings and site visitors.
If you happen to’re fearful about redirects hurting your rankings or trying to troubleshoot redirection points in your website, step one is to run an audit.
Use the Semrush Web site Audit device to establish incorrect redirect configurations, redirect loops and chains, and a whole bunch of different points that might be holding your website again.
