301 Redirect
ELI5 — The Vibe Check
A 301 redirect says 'this page has PERMANENTLY moved to a new address.' Browsers remember it and go straight to the new URL next time. Google transfers SEO juice from the old URL to the new one. Use this when you're confident the old URL is gone forever.
Real Talk
A 301 (Moved Permanently) redirect tells clients and search engines that a resource has permanently moved to a new URL specified in the Location header. Browsers cache 301s, so subsequent requests go directly to the new URL. Search engines transfer link equity (PageRank) to the new URL.
When You'll Hear This
"Use a 301 redirect when permanently moving a page so SEO rankings transfer." / "The 301 redirect from HTTP to HTTPS ensures all traffic is secured."
Related Terms
302 Redirect
A 302 redirect says 'this page is TEMPORARILY somewhere else — come back here later.' Browsers don't cache it and search engines don't transfer SEO juice.
Redirect
A redirect is when a server says 'what you want isn't here, go look over there instead.' Your browser automatically follows to the new URL.
SEO
SEO is the art of convincing Google to rank your website higher than your competitors.
Status Code
An HTTP status code is the server's one-line verdict on your request. 200 means 'perfect, here's what you asked for.' 404 means 'can't find it.