Redirect Chain Checker
Trace a URL from the first request to the final destination. See every 301, 302, 307 and 308 hop, the final HTTP response and whether the chain could be simplified.
What is a redirect chain?
A redirect is often intentional: an old URL can point to a new one, HTTP can move to HTTPS, or a migrated page can send visitors to its replacement. A chain appears when there is more than one redirect in sequence. The longer the chain, the more requests a browser or crawler must make before reaching the final response.
301 vs 302 vs 307 vs 308 redirects
| Status | Typical meaning | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| 301 | Moved Permanently | Common for permanent URL changes and migrations. |
| 302 | Found / temporary redirect | Often used when the redirect is intended to be temporary. |
| 307 | Temporary Redirect | Preserves the request method more explicitly than older 302 behaviour. |
| 308 | Permanent Redirect | Permanent redirect that preserves the request method. |
Are redirect chains bad for SEO?
One clean redirect is normal. Unnecessary chains can add latency, make migrations harder to debug and leave internal links pointing through obsolete URLs. Search engines can follow redirects, but simplifying avoidable hops creates a clearer URL architecture for users, crawlers and your own analytics.
Common redirect problems
- HTTP → HTTPS → www → non-www or the reverse
- Old migration rules stacked on top of newer migrations
- Internal links still pointing at redirected URLs
- Redirect loops that never reach a final page
- Temporary redirects left in place after a permanent move