SEO
302 redirect
A 302 redirect is a temporary HTTP status code that forwards visitors and search engines from one web page to another while keeping the original page indexed.
also called: temporary redirect
// definition
Under the Hypertext Transfer Protocol specification, a 302 Found status code indicates that a requested web resource temporarily resides under a different address. When a web server issues this response, the browser immediately requests the temporary location. Users see the new content, while saved bookmarks retain the original address.
Search engine crawlers process the code by fetching destination content while preserving the original page in search indexes. Unlike permanent redirects, a 302 preserves ranking authority at the source address. Developers implement this status code through server configurations, response headers, or application scripts when an original page will return to service short-term.
// 302 redirect vs. Canonical URL
A 302 redirect actively forwards visitor web browsers and search crawlers to a temporary location. In contrast, a canonical URL tag is an HTML tag that suggests a preferred version of a page without altering where browsers navigate. A 302 redirect forcibly reroutes incoming traffic, whereas a canonical URL tag allows users to stay on the requested page.
For example, a fitness studio chain undergoing temporary renovations at its primary facility can issue a 302 redirect to forward visitors to a temporary branch page. A canonical tag would leave visitors on the original renovated studio page, whereas the 302 redirect physically sends users and search bots to the temporary location while retaining the original ranking authority.
// why it matters
Using a 302 redirect protects search visibility and keyword rankings when primary web pages require short-term maintenance or seasonal updates. Misconfiguring a temporary update as a permanent 301 redirect causes search engines to transfer indexation, requiring costly effort to recover historical positions later.
However, leaving a temporary redirect active indefinitely confuses search engine crawlers. Over time, crawlers may begin treating the temporary destination as permanent, stripping the primary address of its established search authority and altering organic search traffic patterns.
Questions and Answers
- What happens to search rankings when using a 302 redirect?
- Search rankings remain attached to the original source web page rather than transferring to the destination address. Search engine crawlers index the temporary content for current display, but they preserve the ranking power, historical signals, and search index placement at the primary location.
- When should an e-commerce store use a 302 redirect?
- An e-commerce store should use a 302 redirect for temporary stock shortages, short-term maintenance, or seasonal promotions. For example, if a product is temporarily out of stock, sending traffic to a similar category page prevents broken links while keeping the original product page indexed for its return.