URL redirect checker

1. Introduction

URL Redirect Checker is a simple online tool that analyzes how a web address responds when accessed. It shows whether a URL returns a direct response (such as 200 OK) or redirects to another URL using HTTP status codes like 301 or 302.

Redirects are commonly used when a webpage has moved to a new location, when enforcing HTTPS, or when consolidating duplicate pages. However, incorrect or excessive redirects can harm SEO performance, slow down page loading, and create poor user experiences.

This tool helps website owners, marketers, and developers trace redirect chains step-by-step. Instead of automatically following redirects silently, it records each hop and displays the HTTP status code at every stage. This makes it easy to detect redirect loops, unnecessary chains, or misconfigured responses.

Whether you're auditing a website migration, verifying canonical redirects, or debugging server configuration, this tool provides a clear breakdown of how your URL behaves.

2. How It Works

The tool sends an HTTP request to the submitted URL and inspects the server's response. Instead of automatically following redirects, it manually checks each response and records the details before proceeding to the next step.

Input Parameter

• URL (required) – The web address you want to analyze. It must be a valid URL format (e.g., https://example.com).

Validation Rules

• The URL field cannot be empty.
• The input must be a properly formatted URL.
• A security token is required to prevent unauthorized form submissions.
• If the request fails (invalid domain, DNS error, unreachable server), an error message is displayed.

Processing Logic

Once submitted, the tool performs the following steps:

1. Sends an HTTP GET request to the provided URL.
2. Records the HTTP status code returned by the server.
3. If the response code is 301 (Moved Permanently) or 302 (Found), it extracts the redirect location header.
4. Repeats the process with the new URL.
5. Stops after a maximum of 10 redirects or when a non-redirect status code is reached.

Output Structure

The results are displayed in a table with:

• Step Number – The order of the request.
• URL – The requested address at that step.
• Status Code – The HTTP response code returned.

Limitations

• Maximum of 10 redirect hops.
• Only 301 and 302 redirects are followed.
• Does not execute JavaScript-based redirects.
• Does not display response headers beyond status codes.

3. How to Use This Tool

1. Enter the full URL you want to check (including http:// or https://).
2. Click the process button.
3. Wait a moment while the tool processes the redirect chain.
4. Review the table showing each redirect step and status code.
5. Identify whether the final status is 200 (successful) or another response.

4. Practical Examples

Example 1: HTTP to HTTPS Redirect

Input:

http://example.com

Output:

1. http://example.com - 301
2. https://example.com - 200

This shows a proper permanent redirect from HTTP to HTTPS, which is recommended for SEO and security.

Example 2: Redirect Chain Issue

Input:

http://oldsite.com

Output:

1. http://oldsite.com - 302
2. https://oldsite.com - 301
3. https://www.oldsite.com - 200

This reveals a multi-step redirect chain. While functional, reducing it to a single redirect would improve performance and SEO efficiency.

5. Developer Use Cases

• SEO Auditing: Detect redirect chains and verify canonicalization during site migrations.
• Server Configuration Testing: Validate Apache, Nginx, or reverse proxy redirect rules.
• Automation Scripts: Integrate redirect checking into CI/CD pipelines.
• Security Validation: Ensure HTTPS enforcement and avoid open redirect vulnerabilities.

PHP Example

$response = curl_init('https://example.com');
curl_setopt($response, CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION, false);
curl_exec($response);
$status = curl_getinfo($response, CURLINFO_HTTP_CODE);

JavaScript Example (Node.js)

const https = require('https');
https.get('https://example.com', (res) => {
  console.log(res.statusCode);
});

When implementing redirect validation programmatically, always limit redirect depth to prevent infinite loops and validate URLs to avoid SSRF vulnerabilities.

6. FAQ

What is a 301 redirect?

A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect that passes most SEO value to the new URL.

What is a 302 redirect?

A 302 redirect is a temporary redirect indicating the move is not permanent.

Why are redirect chains bad for SEO?

Multiple redirects slow down page loading and dilute link equity.

How many redirects are too many?

Ideally, no more than one redirect before reaching the final destination.

Does this tool detect redirect loops?

It stops after 10 redirects, which helps identify potential loops.

Can this tool detect JavaScript redirects?

No. It only detects server-side HTTP redirects (301 and 302).