301 Moved Permanently HTTP Status Code

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Description

HTTP status code 301, also known as "301 Moved Permanently," is a response status code indicating that the requested resource has been permanently moved to a new URL, which is provided in the response's Location header. This means that the resource in question is no longer available at the URL the client used, and the client is advised to update their links or bookmarks to the new URL provided.

When a client, such as a web browser or a search engine crawler, receives a 301 status code, it automatically redirects to the new URL provided in the Location header. This is important for maintaining SEO value, as it tells search engines that the move is permanent, and they should transfer any link equity from the old URL to the new URL.

A 301 redirect is commonly used when a website or a specific page's URL is changed, and it is intended to preserve search engine rankings by indicating that the move is permanent. It is a crucial tool for website migrations, rebranding, or when consolidating duplicate pages into a single URL.

Status

HTTP

301 Moved Permanently

Common Causes

The primary causes or scenarios where a 301 status code might be used include:

URL Redirection: The most common cause for a 301 status code is when a website or a specific webpage has been moved to a new URL, and the site owner wants to redirect traffic from the old URL to the new one. This ensures that users and search engines are directed to the correct page.
Canonicalization: Websites might use 301 redirects to address non-www and www versions of their URLs, or to resolve issues with similar URLs that serve the same content. For example, redirecting http://example.com to http://www.example.com, or vice versa, to avoid duplicate content issues.
Change of Domain: When changing the domain name of a website, 301 redirects are used to redirect all traffic from the old domain to the new one, helping preserve search engine rankings by indicating the permanent nature of the move.
HTTPS Migration: If a website moves from HTTP to HTTPS, 301 redirects are used to ensure that users and search engines are directed to the secure version of the site.
Link Consolidation: To consolidate the link equity that might be spread across multiple pages, 301 redirects can be used to point all variations of a URL to a single, authoritative version.
Directory or File Structure Changes: If a website reorganizes its content, changing directory or file names, 301 redirects are used to guide users and search engines from the old paths to the new ones.

It's important to use 301 redirects correctly, as they not only affect user experience by ensuring that visitors reach the desired content but also play a crucial role in maintaining a site's SEO performance by passing the link equity of the old URL to the new URL. Misuse or incorrect implementation of 301 redirects can lead to SEO issues, such as loss of rankings and traffic.