Glossary · Hosting and delivery
Redirect chain
A sequence in which one URL redirects to another URL that redirects again before the final response.
Also called: redirect chains
Definition
A redirect chain occurs when a request follows two or more redirect hops. Chains often accumulate after repeated migrations, protocol changes, hostname changes, or route updates and can usually be replaced with one direct mapping.
Why it matters
Extra hops add latency, complicate debugging, consume crawler effort, and increase the chance that an intermediate rule breaks.
Common misunderstanding
A chain can eventually reach the correct page and still be unnecessary or harmful; test every source URL through to the final status and destination.
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