A 302 Redirect (Found / Temporary Redirect) is an HTTP status code that tells browsers and search engines that a page has been moved temporarily to a different URL. Unlike a 301 redirect, the original URL is expected to be used again in the future.
When a visitor accesses the original address, the server automatically redirects them to the temporary destination page before any content is loaded.
Table of Contents
How Does a 302 Redirect Work?
When a browser requests a page that has a 302 redirect configured:
- The server responds with the HTTP status code:
302 Found- The response includes a new destination URL.
- The browser automatically loads the temporary destination page.
- Search engines understand that the redirect is temporary and generally continue to treat the original URL as the primary address.
When Should You Use a 302 Redirect?
A 302 redirect is appropriate when the change is only temporary.
Common examples include:
- Website maintenance
- Temporary landing pages for marketing campaigns
- Seasonal promotions
- A product page that is temporarily unavailable
- Testing a new page design
- Redirecting visitors during content updates
Example
Suppose the page:
https://yourdomain.com/promotionis temporarily unavailable.
You can redirect visitors to:
https://yourdomain.com/special-offerusing a 302 redirect. Once the original page is ready again, the redirect can be removed.
302 Redirect vs. 301 Redirect
| Feature | 301 Redirect | 302 Redirect |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Permanent move | Temporary move |
| Search engines update indexing | Yes | Usually no |
| Original URL expected to return | No | Yes |
| Suitable for domain migrations | Yes | No |
| Suitable for temporary campaigns | No | Yes |
A 301 redirect tells search engines that the page has permanently moved and that ranking signals should be transferred to the new URL. A 302 redirect indicates that the move is temporary and that the original URL should remain indexed.
SEO Considerations
Because a 302 redirect is temporary:
- Search engines generally continue to index the original URL.
- Ranking signals may not be fully transferred to the destination URL.
- It should not be used for permanent website migrations or domain changes.
If a redirect will remain in place permanently, a 301 redirect is usually the better choice.
Is the Redirect Visible to Visitors?
In most cases, visitors will not notice the redirect because it happens automatically before the destination page is displayed.
The only visible effect is that the browser loads a different URL than the one originally requested.
Summary
A 302 redirect is a temporary redirect that sends visitors from one URL to another while indicating that the original page will return in the future. It is useful for maintenance work, temporary campaigns, content testing, and other short-term changes. For permanent URL or domain changes, a 301 redirect should generally be used instead.