Tracking a Secure Redirect
Example Input
http://github.com
Sample Output
Hop 1: http://github.com (301 Moved Permanently) -> Hop 2: https://github.com/ (200 OK)
Redirect Chain Checker
Audit Hop-by-HopTrace the path a URL takes, track HTTP redirect status codes, detect redirect loops, and uncover SEO authority loss or security gaps.
redirect-tracer
PenGenie SEO
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What is a Redirect Chain?
A redirect chain occurs when a browser or search engine crawler requests a URL that redirects to a second URL, which then redirects to a third URL, and so on. Multiple hops increase load times, impact user experience, and risk losing page authority (often referred to as link juice). A redirect chain checker maps these hops step-by-step to expose crawl bottlenecks.
Why Tracking Redirect Paths Matters for SEO
Every extra redirect hop increases page load latency and consumes search engine crawl budget. In worst-case scenarios, long chains or loops can cause search engine bots to abandon crawling entirely, preventing index updates. Use a tracer to locate redirect paths and adjust your internal links to point directly to the final 200 OK destination URL.
Examples
FAQ
What is the difference between a 301 and 302 redirect?
A 301 redirect indicates a permanent move, passing link authority to the new target URL. A 302 redirect signifies a temporary move; search engines keep the original URL indexed and do not consolidate link signals.
How many redirect hops will Googlebot follow?
Googlebot typically follows up to 5 redirect hops in a chain. If the chain is longer, it may abort and fail to index the final target page. Keeping redirects to a single hop is highly recommended.
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