Glossary · Hosting and delivery
301 redirect
An HTTP redirect status indicating that a resource has moved permanently to another URL.
Also called: 301, permanent redirect
Definition
A 301 response tells the client that the requested resource now has a permanent location supplied in the response. Browsers and crawlers can follow that destination, and future requests should use the new URL.
Why it matters
Correct permanent redirects preserve customer paths and help search systems understand URL changes during redesigns, migrations, and consolidation.
Common misunderstanding
A 301 does not repair an irrelevant destination, redirect chain, loop, or broken page at the new URL.
Ownership implications
Keep the redirect map with the site records and test source URL, destination, status, chain length, and removal conditions.
Business implications
Intentional 301 redirects protect useful paths and reduce avoidable losses when pages or domains move.
Related terms
Related system family: Hosting & Release
Sources
- HTTP response status codes (opens in a new tab) · MDN Web Docs
- URL structure best practices (opens in a new tab) · Google Search Central
Last reviewed July 16, 2026