Technical Definition
A 301 redirect is a permanent server-side redirect that passes most ranking signals (approximately 90-99%) to the destination URL. Use for URL changes, domain migrations, and consolidating duplicate content. Implemented via .htaccess (Apache), server config (Nginx), or application code. Too many redirect chains hurt crawl efficiency and user experience.
Simple Explanation (ELI13)
A 301 redirect is like a permanent forwarding address. When you move a page to a new URL, the 301 tells Google 'this page has moved here forever.' Google then transfers most of the SEO value from the old URL to the new one. It's essential when you change URLs so you don't lose your rankings.
Related Terms
302 Redirect, Redirect Chain, Site Migration, URL Change
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