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301 vs 302 Redirects: When to Use 301, 302, 307, and 308

Published 2026/08/26Updated 2026/08/26

Choosing the right HTTP redirect status matters when you move pages, maintain URL rules, or test a redirect chain. This guide compares 301 and 302 redirects, explains the related 307 and 308 statuses, and shows how to verify each response with Redirect Chain Checker.

Feature Overview

Redirect Chain Checker accepts a public HTTP or HTTPS URL from the Checker form on the home page. After you select Check Redirects, it follows the public response one hop at a time and shows the source URL, destination URL, status code, redirect type, response time, and final URL. The report also flags issues such as long chains, loops, broken targets, and HTTPS downgrades. Results can be copied or downloaded as JSON or CSV, and the tool provides a share link.

301 vs 302: Permanent or Temporary

301 Permanent Redirect

A 301 means that the requested resource has moved permanently. Use it when an old URL should consistently resolve to a new canonical URL, such as a completed site migration, a page replacement, or an HTTP-to-HTTPS rule that is intended to remain. A 301 tells clients and crawlers to update their understanding of the old address, but you should still test that the destination is correct and returns the expected page.

302 Temporary Redirect

A 302 normally means that the move is temporary. It is suitable for a short-lived campaign route, temporary maintenance destination, or an experiment where the original URL should remain the long-term address. Leaving a 302 in place for a permanent move can make migration intent less clear and can cause old rules to remain in a chain longer than necessary.

How 307 and 308 Differ

307 is the temporary counterpart to 302, while 308 is the permanent counterpart to 301. The key distinction is method preservation: 307 and 308 require the client to preserve the request method and body when following the redirect. This is important for requests such as POST, where silently changing the follow-up request to GET could lose the intended operation. 301 and 302 are commonly used for normal page navigation, but clients may apply historical method-changing behavior, so choose 307 or 308 when strict method preservation is required.

How to Use the Checker

Open the Checker on the home page and enter the public source URL you want to inspect.
Select Check Redirects. The checker follows each reachable HTTP or HTTPS response and builds the chain.
Read every row in order: source URL, destination URL, status, type, and response time. Check the final URL and the issue badges.
For a migration, confirm the old URL points directly to the intended new URL with one permanent hop where possible.
For maintenance or testing, confirm a temporary rule uses 302 or 307 only while the temporary condition exists, then retest after the rule changes.
Use Copy report, Download JSON, or Download CSV to keep a reproducible result. The report also includes a share link.

Practical Scenarios

Website Migration

When http://example.com/old-page moves permanently to https://example.com/new-page, configure a direct 301 (or 308 when method preservation is needed), then check the old URL. The expected trace is one redirect followed by the final page response. If the report shows HTTP to HTTPS to www to a new path, consolidate the rules so the old URL points directly to the final destination.

Routine Maintenance

During a temporary maintenance window, a 302 (or 307 for method-sensitive requests) can point visitors to a status page while the original URL remains the canonical address. Remove or change the temporary rule when maintenance ends and verify that no stale redirect remains.

Testing and Troubleshooting

Use the checker for HTTP/HTTPS, www/non-www, trailing-slash, legacy-path, shortened-link, and tracking-link tests. A loop, a missing destination, a timeout, or an HTTPS downgrade should be fixed at the redirect-rule source. The checker blocks local, private, reserved, and non-HTTP destinations, so tests must use publicly reachable URLs.

Parameter Reference

Source URL: the URL submitted to the Checker.
Destination URL: the Location target returned by each redirect response.
Status: the HTTP response code, including 301, 302, 307, or 308.
Type: the redirect type reported for that hop.
Response time: the recorded time for that request in milliseconds.
Final URL: the last reachable destination after the chain completes.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I use 301 instead of 302?

Choose 301 when the URL move is permanent. Choose 302 when the original URL should remain in use after a temporary condition ends.

Can 307 and 302 be used interchangeably?

They can both represent a temporary move, but 307 explicitly preserves the request method and body. Use 307 when that behavior matters.

Can 308 and 301 be used interchangeably?

Both indicate a permanent move, but 308 preserves the request method and body. Use 308 for method-sensitive requests.

What should I do when the report shows multiple hops?

Review each row and change the first rule so it points directly to the final intended URL. Retest until unnecessary hops, loops, broken targets, and downgrade warnings are gone.

Which URLs can the tool check?

It follows public HTTP or HTTPS responses one hop at a time. Local, private, reserved, and non-HTTP destinations are blocked.

Are reports saved?

Reports are stored so you can open a share link or, when signed in, review them in Check History. Do not submit URLs containing private tokens.

FAQ

When should I use 301 instead of 302?

Use 301 when a URL move is permanent. Use 302 when the original URL should remain after a temporary condition ends.

What is the main difference between 307 and 302?

Both represent a temporary move, but 307 explicitly preserves the request method and body.

What is the main difference between 308 and 301?

Both represent a permanent move, but 308 preserves the request method and body.

How do I check a redirect chain?

Enter a public HTTP or HTTPS URL in the home page Checker, select Check Redirects, and review each hop and the final URL.

What should I do when a report shows multiple hops?

Change the first redirect rule to point directly to the intended final URL, then retest for loops, broken targets, and downgrade warnings.

Are reports saved?

Reports are stored for a share link and can be reviewed in Check History when signed in. Do not submit URLs containing private tokens.

301 vs 302 Redirects: When to Use 301, 302, 307, and 308

Feature Overview

301 vs 302: Permanent or Temporary

301 Permanent Redirect

302 Temporary Redirect

How 307 and 308 Differ

How to Use the Checker

Practical Scenarios

Website Migration

Routine Maintenance

Testing and Troubleshooting

Parameter Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I use 301 instead of 302?

Can 307 and 302 be used interchangeably?

Can 308 and 301 be used interchangeably?

What should I do when the report shows multiple hops?

Which URLs can the tool check?

Are reports saved?

FAQ

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