What is the purpose of a 301 redirect?
- To temporarily redirect users from one URL to another
- To prevent search engine crawlers from indexing a page
- To resolve duplicate content issues
- To permanently redirect users from one URL to another
Explanation: The purpose of a 301 redirect is to permanently redirect users from one URL to another. When a webpage’s URL changes or a website undergoes restructuring, implementing a 301 redirect ensures that visitors who access the old URL are automatically forwarded to the new one. This is crucial for maintaining a seamless user experience and preventing visitors from encountering broken links or error pages. Additionally, from an SEO perspective, a 301 redirect signals to search engines that the content from the old URL has permanently moved to the new one. As a result, search engines transfer the accumulated ranking value, or ’link juice,’ from the old URL to the new one, helping to preserve the website’s search visibility and authority. By implementing a 301 redirect, website owners can effectively manage URL changes, consolidate page authority, and ensure uninterrupted access to their web content. Therefore, the correct answer is To permanently redirect users from one URL to another.