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Redirect Code (.htaccess) Generator

.htaccess Redirect Generator

Create error-free Apache redirect rules to maintain SEO rankings and user experience.

.htaccess Code
# Your redirect rules will appear here...

The Essential Guide to Website Redirects and .htaccess SEO

A redirect is more than just a path change; it is an instruction to the internet that preserves your hard-earned authority.

Preserve Link Equity

Transfer the "SEO juice" of old backlinks to your new URLs, preventing a drop in search engine rankings.

Fix 404 Errors

Automatically capture users landing on broken links and guide them to relevant content, reducing bounce rates.

Secure Migrations

Ensure a seamless transition when changing domain names or moving from HTTP to HTTPS protocols.

Understanding 301 vs. 302 Redirects

Choosing the right redirect type is critical for how Google interprets your site changes. [Image showing the flow of a 301 permanent redirect passing authority vs a 302 temporary redirect] A 301 Redirect is permanent and tells search engines to transfer all ranking power to the new URL. A 302 Redirect is temporary, signaling that the bot should keep the old URL indexed but send users to the new one for now.

What is an .htaccess File?

The .htaccess (Hypertext Access) file is a powerful configuration file used by Apache-based web servers. It allows you to control server behavior without modifying main server configuration files. By placing specific redirect rules in this file, you can manage how thousands of visitors navigate your site with millisecond efficiency.

Common SEO Redirect Scenarios

  • URL Restructuring: Moving from /blog/post-1 to /news/post-1.
  • Protocol Change: Forcing all traffic from http:// to the secure https://.
  • Domain Change: Redirecting an old domain to a brand new brand identity.
  • Non-WWW to WWW: Consolidating traffic to a single preferred version of your domain.

Best Practices for .htaccess Management

To keep your site fast and SEO-healthy, follow these professional tips:

  • Avoid Redirect Chains: Never redirect Page A to Page B, then Page B to Page C. This slows down the site and dilutes SEO power.
  • Test Every Rule: A single typo in an .htaccess file can take down your entire website with a 500 Internal Server Error.
  • Keep it Clean: Regularly audit your redirect file to remove old rules that are no longer necessary.

Redirect FAQ

The file is usually located in the **root directory** of your website (public_html). It is a hidden file, so you may need to enable "Show Hidden Files" in your FTP or File Manager.

Actually, it does the opposite. While there might be a very slight temporary fluctuation, a 301 redirect is designed to maintain your traffic by passing nearly 100% of the link equity to the new page.
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