Redirect
Redirect
A mechanism that automatically sends a website visitor to a different page.
In Simple Terms
A redirect is a mechanism that automatically sends you to a different webpage when you try to open one. For example, it's used when a website's URL changes, so people who visit the old URL are automatically guided to the new page. The key feature is that your browser switches the page for you automatically - you don't have to click anything yourself.
Behind the Name
The word "redirect" comes from combining "re" (meaning "again") and "direct" (meaning "to guide" or "to point toward"). Put together, they literally mean "to direct someone somewhere again" - in other words, sending them to a new destination instead of where they originally intended to go.
Take a Closer Look!
A redirect is a mechanism that automatically sends visitors from one specified webpage to another. It's mainly used when a website is moved or when a page's URL changes.
Think of it as an automatic signpost on the internet. When someone tries to visit an old URL, the server automatically tells them "the new location is over here," so visitors end up on the right page without having to do anything themselves.
There are several types of redirects, and which one you use depends on whether the page move is temporary or permanent. For example, a "301 redirect" indicates that a page has moved permanently, and it can pass along the ranking value the old page had built up to the new page.
On the other hand, if you want to temporarily send visitors to a different page - like during site maintenance - you'd use a "302 redirect" instead. By choosing the right type for the situation, you can also correctly communicate your site's status to search engines.