301 redirect
TL;DR
A 301 redirect is a permanent server redirect telling search engines a URL has moved for good.
A 301 is an HTTP status code signalling permanent URL relocation. Engines replace the old URL with the new one in their index and pass along most link equity. For SEO it's the safest tool during migrations and URL cleanup.
Example
Moving /old-service to /new-service? Configure a 301 in .htaccess so both visitors and Googlebot land on the new URL automatically.
Frequently asked questions
Do I lose link equity with a 301?
Not since 2016. Google confirmed 301/302/307 and canonical all pass full PageRank. The 301 remains the right choice for moving indexed URLs.
Related terms
Further reading
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