A 301 redirect tells browsers and search engines that a page has permanently moved to a new URL. Visitors to the old link are automatically sent to the new one, and SEO value is passed along.
Example
Old URL: https://example.com/old-page
301 Redirect → New URL: https://example.com/new-page
Why 301 Redirects Matter
Keep visitors from hitting broken pages
Preserve search engine rankings (link equity transfers)
Support smooth site migrations and restructures
When to Use a 301 Redirect (Google’s Guidance)
Changing to a new domain or domain name
Consolidating duplicate sections (e.g.,
/home,home.example.com,www.example.com)Updating or migrating to a new website version