How to Check URL Redirects and Redirect Chains
Redirects are everywhere on the web — old URLs pointing to new ones, HTTP going to HTTPS, www to non-www. Most of the time they work fine. But when they don't, or when they chain together into long sequences, they can hurt your page speed and SEO. A redirect checker lets you trace exactly what happens when someone visits a URL.
Why Redirects Matter for SEO
Search engines follow redirects, but they don't love them. A single 301 redirect passes most link equity to the new URL. But chain multiple redirects together and you lose authority at each hop. Google has said they'll follow up to about 5 redirects, but that doesn't mean they should have to.
Redirect chains also slow down page loads. Each redirect adds a round trip to the server. If someone clicks a link that goes through three redirects before reaching the actual page, that's three unnecessary delays.
301 vs 302: The Difference Matters
A 301 is a permanent redirect — it tells search engines to transfer ranking signals to the new URL. A 302 is temporary — search engines keep the original URL indexed. Using the wrong type is a common mistake.
If you moved a page permanently, you want a 301. If you're temporarily redirecting (like during maintenance), use a 302. I've seen sites accidentally use 302s for permanent moves, which means search engines keep trying to index the old URL. Not ideal.
How the Redirect Checker Works
Enter any URL and the tool follows every redirect in the chain, showing you each hop with its status code (301, 302, 307, 308, etc.), the target URL, and the response headers. You'll see the complete path from the initial URL to the final destination.
It also flags potential issues: redirect loops (URL A points to URL B which points back to A), long chains (more than 2-3 hops), and mixed redirect types.
Common Redirect Issues to Watch For
The most frequent problems I find with this tool: HTTP to HTTPS to www to non-www chains (that's three redirects before reaching the page), old vanity URLs that redirect through multiple intermediaries, and redirect loops that result in browser errors.
After a site migration, redirect issues are almost guaranteed. Running your old URLs through a redirect checker is the fastest way to verify everything is pointing to the right place.
Check Your Redirects Now
Enter a URL and see exactly where it goes. Find chains, loops, and wrong redirect types before they hurt your SEO.