Understanding HTTP status code 301: the meaning and role of redirects

HTTP status code 301 refers to a permanent redirect. When the browser sends a request, the server will return a 301 status code, telling the browser that the requested resource has been permanently moved to another URL, and the browser needs to resend the request to the new URL.

The role of the 301 status code is to make the URL structure of the website clearer and maintainable. When a website needs to change the URL of a certain page or the domain name of the entire website, a 301 redirect can be used to ensure that users can successfully access the new URL. Instead of causing an error page because the old URL cannot be found.

301 status code means permanent redirection, so the search engine will transfer the original ranking, weight, inclusion and other indicators of the old URL to the new URL. This ensures that the website's SEO and user experience are not affected, while also retaining the original traffic.

In practical applications, 301 redirects are commonly used in the following situations:

1. Website changes domain name: When a website needs to change its domain name, 301 redirection can be used. Tell search engines and users about the new domain name, and transfer the ranking and weight of the old domain name to the new domain name.
2. Page URL change: When the URL of a page on a website changes, you can use 301 redirection to redirect the old URL to the new URL to ensure that users can successfully access the page and retain it. Original rankings and weights.
3. Delete page: When a page on a website no longer exists, you can use 301 redirection to redirect the URL of the page to other pages to ensure that users can continue to access related content.

It should be noted that 301 redirection is a very important operation and must be performed carefully to avoid errors. If the redirect settings are incorrectly set, it may prevent users from accessing the correct page, thus affecting website access and user experience.

When setting up 301 redirection, it is recommended to follow the following principles:

1. Permanent redirection: 301 status code indicates permanent redirection, so when setting up redirection, be sure to Make sure the target URL is permanent. If the target URL is only temporary, the 302 status code should be used for temporary redirection.
2. Maintain consistency: When setting up a 301 redirect, the content of the old and new URLs should be consistent. This helps search engines index new URLs correctly and keeps users familiar with your site.
3. Update internal links: After setting up a 301 redirect, you should update the links within the website to replace the old URL with the new URL. This helps search engines crawl and index new URLs correctly.

In summary, understanding the meaning and function of HTTP status code 301 is very important for website maintenance and optimization. Correct use of 301 redirects can help the website maintain stable ranking and weight, improve user experience, and also reduce the impact of error pages on the website. It should be noted that you must be careful when setting up 301 redirects to avoid errors.

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