When you test a URL, you’ll see one or more HTTP status codes.
These codes explain how browsers and search engines move from one URL to another.
Here’s what they actually mean — and when you should care.
200 OK
The page loaded normally. This is the final destination Google wants to index.
Ideal
301 Moved Permanently
The URL has permanently moved to a new location.
Ranking signals are passed to the destination URL.
Recommended
302 Found
A temporary redirect. Often misused for permanent moves.
Google may continue indexing the original URL.
Use with care
307 Temporary Redirect
Similar to a 302 but stricter. Still considered temporary.
Temporary only
308 Permanent Redirect
A permanent redirect like a 301, but more technically strict.
Safe
404 Not Found
The URL does not exist. Crawlers stop here.
Problem
410 Gone
The page was intentionally removed.
Google drops it from the index quickly.
Intentional
500 Server Error
The server failed to respond correctly.
Crawling and indexing may be blocked.
Critical
Why redirect chains hurt SEO
Important
A redirect chain happens when a URL redirects more than once before reaching
its final destination.
Example: URL A → URL B → URL C → Final page
Search engines may stop following long chains
Crawl budget is wasted on unnecessary hops
Page speed is reduced
Ranking signals can weaken
Best practice: Redirect directly to the final URL in a single step.
What is an acceptable redirect setup?
Best practice
Good
/old-page → 301 → /new-page
Bad
/old-page → 302 → /temp → 301 → /final
Very bad
http → https → www → index.php → final
If this tool shows three or more hops, the redirect setup should be reviewed.
What if the final URL has a canonical tag?
Common issue
If the final page includes a canonical URL that differs from the redirect
destination, Google may:
Ignore the redirect target
Index the canonical URL instead
Split ranking signals
This is why the tool shows the canonical tag on the final page, not just the redirects.