What Are the Differences Between 301 and 302 Redirects Using PHP's header() Function? How to Choose and Apply These Redirects in Real Projects?

In web development, redirects are a common operation, especially when dealing with URL changes, SEO, or link structure adjustments. PHP provides the header() function to send HTTP headers and achieve URL redirection. By setting different HTTP status codes, we can control the type of redirect, with the most common being 301 (permanent redirect) and 302 (temporary redirect). The key difference between these two types lies in their meaning and typical use cases.

What Are 301 and 302 Redirects?

• 301 Redirect (Permanent Redirect)
  A 301 redirect indicates that the resource has permanently moved to a new location. When clients or search engines receive a 301 response, they replace the original URL with the new URL and will directly access the new URL in future requests. For SEO, 301 redirects are the most common because they transfer the original URL’s ranking and authority to the new URL.

• 302 Redirect (Temporary Redirect)
  A 302 redirect means the resource has temporarily moved to a new location. When clients or search engines receive this response, they continue to request the original URL and do not save the new URL as permanent. This type of redirect is typically used when URLs change temporarily but will eventually revert to the original URL.

How to Use PHP’s header() Function for Redirects?

In PHP, the header() function is used to send HTTP header information to perform redirects. You can specify the appropriate HTTP status code to implement different types of redirects. For example:

1. Implementing a 301 Redirect

<?php
header("HTTP/1.1 301 Moved Permanently");
header("Location: https://m66.net/new-url"); // Replace with your target URL
exit();
?>

This code uses the 301 status code to indicate a permanent redirect. When a user visits the current page, the browser is redirected to the new URL, and this redirect is cached, so future visits will directly go to the new address.

2. Implementing a 302 Redirect

<?php
header("HTTP/1.1 302 Found");
header("Location: https://m66.net/temporary-url"); // Replace with your target URL
exit();
?>

This code performs a 302 temporary redirect. The browser temporarily navigates to the new address but continues to request the original URL. After the temporary redirect ends, users will return to accessing the original URL.

Differences Between 301 and 302 Redirects

How to Choose and Apply These Redirects in Real Projects?

In real development, we need to choose between 301 and 302 redirects based on different business requirements.

1. When to Choose a 301 Redirect

• Website Migration: When changing domains or restructuring the site, use a 301 redirect to permanently redirect old URLs to new ones, ensuring SEO authority is preserved.

• Permanent Page Removal: If a page is no longer used and won’t return, a 301 redirect can route traffic to other relevant pages.

• Domain Consolidation: If your site has multiple domains (like www and non-www versions), use a 301 redirect to unify access paths and avoid duplicate content issues affecting SEO.

2. When to Choose a 302 Redirect

• Temporary Page Changes: For example, when a page is under maintenance or being updated, use a 302 redirect to a temporary page, then revert back when done.

• A/B Testing: If conducting A/B tests on different page versions and you don’t want to affect SEO rankings, use a 302 redirect.

• Promotional Campaigns: For time-limited promotions, temporarily redirect users to a special page using a 302 redirect and revert afterward.

Summary

Using PHP’s header() function to perform 301 or 302 redirects is straightforward, but choosing the right type of redirect is crucial for SEO and user experience. Generally, use a 301 redirect when the resource has permanently moved, and a 302 redirect when changes are temporary. By selecting the appropriate redirect method, you can better manage your site’s URL structure and provide a smooth browsing experience for users.

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