302 redirect

What is a 302 redirect?

A 302 redirect is a temporary redirect from one URL to another. The server returns the HTTP status code 302 (Found), which signals that the original URL is still the real page. Visitors are sent to the temporary destination automatically.

Why is a 302 redirect important?

• The original URL stays in charge: as long as the redirect is temporary, Google has no reason to replace the old URL.
• Flexible testing: you send traffic elsewhere for a while without lasting consequences.
• Risk when misused: a 302 left in place after a permanent move can make Google keep showing the old URL for longer.

Examples of a 302 redirect

• A store sends visitors to a promotion page during a Black Friday sale.
• A restaurant redirects /menu to a Christmas menu for one week.
• An A/B test sends half of the traffic to a test version of a page.

How do you use a 302 redirect?

Use a 302 redirect only when the redirect is truly temporary, and plan when you will remove it. If the move is permanent, choose a 301 redirect instead. You can find wrong redirects by crawling your site, a standard part of technical SEO.