Quick answer: HTTP redirects all send a client somewhere else, but their intended permanence and method-handling rules differ. Understanding the distinction helps when debugging websites, APIs and migrations.
The two questions every redirect answers
A redirect communicates a new location and a status code. Two properties matter most: whether the move is intended to be permanent, and whether the client is expected to preserve the original HTTP method when following the redirect. These details matter more for POST requests and APIs than for a typical GET link.
301 and 308 are permanent
301 Moved Permanently and 308 Permanent Redirect both communicate a lasting move. Modern browsers commonly turn ordinary GET navigation into a GET at the destination. The important technical distinction is that 308 explicitly preserves the request method and body, while historic 301 behavior can allow method changes in some clients.
302 and 307 are temporary
302 Found is traditionally used for temporary moves, while 307 Temporary Redirect makes method preservation explicit. For a normal link clicked in a browser, both often feel the same. For APIs, form submissions and non-GET requests, the 307 semantics are clearer.
SEO and migration considerations
Search engines can process multiple redirect types, but site migrations are usually clearer when permanent changes use a permanent redirect and temporary experiments use a temporary one. More important than obsessing over a single code is avoiding loops, chains, inconsistent canonicals and links that still point to obsolete locations.
How to audit a redirect
Trace the entire chain, not just the first response. A URL may return 301, then 302 through a tracking service, then finally 200. URLClinic Redirect Checker exposes each hop so you can evaluate the whole path.
Use the tools
For a live URL, URL Checkup combines redirect tracing, metadata, tracking detection and health scoring. If the link is already broken, Smart URL Recovery can search the same site for likely replacement pages. For long-lived public links or printed QR codes, Rescue Link adds a stable managed destination.
Important limitation
URLClinic provides technical information and workflow tools. It does not certify the identity, safety, legality or accuracy of third-party websites. Verify important destinations independently.