What is a 301 redirect

A 301 redirect is a method used in web development to permanently redirect one URL to another. When a user or a search engine crawler attempts to access a URL that has been redirected with a 301 status code, they are automatically sent to the new URL specified in the redirection. This type of redirect is crucial for various reasons including:

1. Website restructuring: When you redesign or reorganize your website, you might change the URLs of certain pages. A 301 redirect ensures that visitors and search engines are directed to the new URLs instead of encountering broken links.

2. Consolidating multiple versions of a URL: If you have multiple versions of your website (e.g., with and without "www"), you can use 301 redirects to consolidate all versions to a single preferred version, improving SEO and preventing duplicate content issues.

3. Changing domain names: When you change your domain name, setting up 301 redirects from the old URLs to the new ones helps maintain your website's traffic and search engine rankings.

4. Correcting URL typos: If users frequently mistype a URL, setting up a redirect from the typo-ridden URL to the correct one can help ensure they still reach the intended page.

Overall, 301 redirects are essential for maintaining the integrity of a website's structure, preserving search engine rankings, and providing a seamless user experience when URLs change.