HTTP Redirect Checker

What is a Redirect Checker?

A Redirect Checker is a tool that allows you to trace the full path of a URL as it redirects from one address to another. When you enter a URL, the tool follows each "hop" in the chain, showing you every intermediate URL and the HTTP status code associated with it (like 301 Permanent Redirect, 302 Found, etc.) until it reaches the final destination.

Why is Checking Redirects Important?

Understanding redirect chains is crucial for both SEO and web development for several reasons:

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Search engines like Google pass ranking value (often called "link equity") through redirects. However, long or incorrect redirect chains can dilute this value or confuse search engine crawlers. A 301 (Permanent) redirect is the standard for telling search engines that a page has moved for good, while a 302 (Temporary) redirect should be used for short-term changes. Using the wrong one can impact your rankings.
• Debugging: If a link on your site isn't working as expected, a redirect checker can help you diagnose the problem. You can see exactly where the redirect chain is breaking or leading to an incorrect page.
• Performance: Each redirect adds latency to your page load time. A long chain of redirects can significantly slow down the user experience. Identifying and eliminating unnecessary hops can improve your site's performance.
• Affiliate Marketing: Affiliate marketers often use redirect links to track clicks. This tool can help you ensure your affiliate links are working correctly and not being hijacked or leading to broken pages.

How to Use the Redirect Checker Tool

1. Enter URL: Paste the full URL you want to check into the input field above. Make sure to include the http:// or https:// prefix.
2. Click "Check Redirects": The tool will begin tracing the URL.
3. Analyze the Results: The results will be displayed in a list, showing each step of the redirect chain.
   • Hop Number: The sequence of the redirect (1, 2, 3, etc.).
   • URL: The URL at that specific step.
   • HTTP Status Code: The code returned by the server for that URL (e.g., 301, 302, 200). A status of 200 OK typically indicates the final destination.

This tool provides a clear, step-by-step view of how a browser (and a search engine crawler) navigates from a starting URL to its final destination, making it an essential utility for anyone managing a website.

Best Practices

• Prefer 301 (Permanent) for long‑term URL moves; use 302/307 (Temporary) for short‑term tests.
• Avoid redirect chains (>1 hop) and redirect loops—they hurt crawl efficiency and page speed.
• Standardize protocol/host: redirect http → https, www ↔ non‑www, and enforce a single canonical.
• Ensure internal links point directly to the final URL to minimize unnecessary hops.
• For international sites, coordinate redirects with hreflang and canonical tags.
• Monitor status codes after site migrations; verify that old URLs resolve to an appropriate destination.
• Keep a migration map; update sitemaps to list final URLs only.

Example Scenarios

• Homepage normalization: http://example.com → https://www.example.com/ (single 301 hop)
• Content moved: /blog/my-post → /articles/my-post (301)
• Temporary campaign: /summer-sale → /landing/summer-sale-2025 (302/307)

Interpreting HTTP Status Codes

• 200 OK: Final destination reached.
• 301 Moved Permanently: Passes equity; update internal links to the new URL.
• 302/307 Temporary: Do not treat as permanent; search engines may not pass full equity.
• 308 Permanent: Like 301 but preserves method; safe for APIs.
• 404/410: Not found/Gone; replace or remove inbound links.
• 5xx: Server error; fix origin before re‑testing.

FAQ

1) Do long redirect chains hurt SEO?
Yes—extra hops waste crawl budget and slow pages. Aim for a single 301.

2) When should I use 302 vs 301?
Use 301 for permanent moves. Use 302/307 for temporary tests or geolocation.

3) How do I detect redirect loops?
Run a check; if the same URLs repeat or the chain never reaches 200, you likely have a loop.

4) Should I redirect mixed‑case URLs?
Standardize case and slashes. Implement rules to normalize and avoid duplicated content.

5) Will query strings be preserved?
Make sure your rules retain query strings where needed (e.g., ?utm_source=...).

Related tools on ChangeBlogger

• URL Parser – inspect URL components before crafting rules.
• Diff Checker – verify content parity after migrations.
• Internal Link Helper – update internal links to the final URLs.