Redirects are an essential part of SEO, user experience, and website management. Whether you’re migrating a domain, fixing broken links, redesigning a website, or optimizing content, knowing the right type of redirect can make a major difference in search visibility and overall performance.

Misusing redirects can lead to traffic loss, indexing issues, duplicate content, and ranking drops. Using them correctly, however, strengthens your site’s authority and improves user flow.

In this guide, WaffleBytes breaks down 11 different types of redirects, how they work, and what impact they have on SEO.

What Are Redirects?

A redirect sends users and search engines from one URL to another.
They’re used when:

• A page is deleted or moved
• URLs change during redesign or migration
• Websites merge
• Content is updated or restructured
• Fixing broken or outdated links

Redirects ensure that both users and search engines reach the correct page-without facing 404 errors or confusion.

Types of Redirects (Complete Breakdown)

Below are the 11 most important redirect types every SEO professional and developer should understand.

1. 301 Redirect (Permanent Redirect)

What It Is:

A 301 redirect signals that a page has permanently moved to a new URL.

SEO Impact:

• Passes 90–99% link equity
• Ideal for long-term migrations
• Maintains rankings and domain authority
• Prevents duplicate content

Usage Examples:

• Changing domain names
• Consolidating similar content
• Long-term restructuring

Best for SEO? – YES, highly recommended.

2. 302 Redirect (Temporary Redirect)

What It Is:

A 302 redirect tells search engines the move is temporary.

SEO Impact:

• Does not fully pass link equity
• Search engines continue indexing the old URL
• May cause ranking fluctuations if used incorrectly

   

Use Only When:

• A/B testing
• Running a temporary promotional page
• Maintenance of the main URL

Not ideal for long-term SEO changes.

3. 307 Redirect (HTTP 1.1 Temporary)

What It Is:

A more strict version of a temporary redirect in HTTP/1.1.

SEO Impact:

• Behaves like a 302
• Should be used only when the HTTP method must remain unchanged
• Little SEO benefit for long-term moves

4. 308 Redirect (Permanent Redirect – Modern)

What It Is:

A newer version of a permanent redirect, similar to a 301 but retains the request method (POST/GET).

SEO Impact:

• Passes full link equity
• SEO-friendly alternative to 301
• Limited support in older systems

5. Meta Refresh Redirect

What It Is:

A redirect triggered from within the HTML page itself, usually with a timer like:

<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="3;url=https://example.com">

SEO Impact:

• Not recommended for SEO
• Can trigger poor user experience
• Slower and less reliable
• Google prefers server-side redirects

6. JavaScript Redirect

What It Is:

Redirect triggered using JavaScript code such as:

window.location.href = "https://example.com";

SEO Impact:

• Google can process it, but not instantly
• May delay crawling
• Not reliable for critical redirects
• Avoid for SEO-sensitive pages

7. Refresh HTTP Header Redirect

What It Is:

Redirect handled using the “Refresh” HTTP response header.

SEO Impact:

• Less common and not fully reliable
• Treated similarly to meta refresh
• Not recommended for SEO

8. 300 Multiple Choices

What It Is:

Indicates multiple possible destination URLs.

SEO Impact:

• Confusing for both users and search engines
• Rarely used in modern web environments
• Not SEO-friendly

9. 303 See Other

What It Is:

Redirect for “See Other” or alternative resources.

SEO Impact:

• Used in API environments
• Not recommended for SEO changes
• Does not pass link equity

10. 304 Not Modified (Caching Redirect)

What It Is:

Signals that content has not changed since the last request.

SEO Impact:

• Not an actual redirect
• Helps with caching efficiency
• Improves page speed
• Good for technical SEO performance

11. 404 → 301 Redirect (Soft Redirect)

What It Is:

Redirecting broken pages (404) to relevant pages via a 301.

SEO Impact:

• Prevents loss of link equity
• Improves user signals
• Helps maintain rankings
• Boosts crawl efficiency

   

Important:  Do NOT redirect all 404 pages to the home page-it’s considered a soft 404 by Google.

Which Redirect Is Best for SEO?

SEO Best Practices for Using Redirects

To maintain rankings and avoid indexing problems, follow these best practices:

1. Avoid Redirect Chains

A chain is like:
OLD URL → Redirect A → Redirect B → Final URL
Keep only one hop:
OLD URL → Final URL

2. Avoid Redirect Loops

Loop example:
A → B → A
This stops indexing and frustrates users.

3. Use 301s for all permanent URL changes

Always preferred by Google.

4. Maintain consistent HTTPS to HTTP migrations

Redirect all HTTP pages to HTTPS for security and SEO.

5. Update Internal Links

Don’t rely on redirects unnecessarily-update links to the final URL.

6. Monitor with Google Search Console

Check Coverage, Redirect Errors, and Page Indexing reports.

When Should You Use Redirects?

Use redirects when:

• Migrating to a new domain
• Changing URL structure
• Merging content
• Updating services or product pages
• Fixing broken internal links
• Deleting outdated content
• Moving to HTTPS
• Running seasonal campaigns

Redirects play a critical role in core SEO, technical optimization, and user experience. Choosing the right redirect type determines whether your site maintains or loses valuable traffic.

• Use 301s or 308s for permanent moves
• Use 302/307 only when necessary
• Avoid meta refresh and JavaScript redirects for SEO
• Fix broken pages with smart 301 redirects
• Always monitor redirects for errors and chains

Implementing redirects the right way ensures your website remains healthy, optimized, and search-friendly.