Test your domain Redirects and statuscodes.

A redirect is a way to send both users and search engines to a different URL from the one they originally requested. Picture it like a highway detour sign, guiding your visitors to the right destination even if the original route has changed. It's an essential tool in maintaining an efficient and user-friendly website.

Redirects are crucial for a variety of reasons. They can help maintain your site's SEO value when moving content, keep user experience smooth by guiding them to the right pages, and even prevent users from stumbling upon broken or deleted pages.

Status codes are like the web's way of communicating responses. When it comes to redirects, two status codes are key: 301 and 302.

• 301 - Moved Permanently: This means the page has been transferred to a new URL permanently. It's especially useful when you're moving your website to a new domain and need to pass the SEO credit to the new page.
• 302 - Found (Previously Moved Temporarily): This implies the move is temporary. It's used when content needs to be moved for a short period, for example, during site maintenance.

Need to create a redirect on Apache? It's as easy as editing your .htaccess file. Insert a line of code specifying the old URL and the new one, and you're good to go! Remember, .htaccess is a powerful tool, so always back it up before making changes. For more information check out the Apache documentation.

For NGINX users, the process is slightly different. Here, you'll need to make changes in your server block file. Define the old URL, the new URL, and the type of redirect, save your changes, and restart NGINX. Voila, your redirect is in place! Check out the Digital Ocean Tutorial for more information.