What is a Redirect Chain?
Imagine you visit a friend's old house, but there’s a note on the door saying, "I moved to Street B." You go to Street B, and another note says, "Actually, I'm now at Street C." This journey is exactly what we call a Redirect Chain. In the digital world, every "note" is a server command. While one jump is fine, having too many can make your browser (and Googlebot) tired!
The 301 Move
This is a Permanent Move. It tells Google that the old page is gone forever and all its "SEO Juice" should go to the new page.
The 302 Move
This is a Temporary Move. It tells Google, "I'm just away for a weekend, don't change the address in your books yet."
Why you should check your links
Using a redirect checker online is vital for three main reasons:
-
Page Speed: Every hop adds milliseconds of waiting time. Too many hops make your site feel slow.
-
Security: Trace shortened links (like Bitly) to see the final destination before you click on a suspicious URL.
-
SEO Juice: Long chains waste your "Crawl Budget," meaning Google might stop looking at your site before it finds your best content.
The Redirect Loop Error
A loop happens when Page A points to Page B, and Page B points back to Page A. Browsers will eventually give up and show a "Too Many Redirects" error. Our tool identifies these loops instantly so you can fix your server settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 301 and 308?
Both are permanent redirects. The main difference is that a 308 does not allow the browser to change the request method from POST to GET.
How many hops are "too many"?
Ideally, you want 0 or 1 hop. Anything more than 3 hops is considered a "Redirect Chain" and should be simplified to improve speed and SEO.
Can I trace shortened affiliate links?
Yes! AirOI Checker is perfect for tracing affiliate links to ensure your tracking codes are working correctly and reaching the right product page.