redirectType

RedirectType is a term used in web development to describe the method by which a URL is redirected to a different location. It often appears as a property or field in web frameworks, content management systems, routing libraries, and API configurations to indicate how a redirect should be performed.

In practice, redirectType typically maps to HTTP redirect semantics or to framework-specific behavior. Common values correspond to permanent versus temporary redirects, such as permanent (often associated with HTTP status codes like 301 or 308) and temporary (often associated with 302 or 307). Some systems also expose descriptive strings, such as "permanent" or "temporary," or numerical codes that map to those categories. The exact representation can vary by platform, but the underlying distinction—whether the redirect is intended to be lasting or provisional—remains central.

The choice of redirectType has implications for search engine optimization, caching, and user experience. Permanent redirects indicate that the original URL has moved permanently and that search engines should transfer ranking signals to the new URL. Temporary redirects signal that the move is not lasting, and search engines may retain signals for the original URL. Browsers and intermediaries may also cache redirects differently based on the type.

Implementation contexts include server configurations (for example, status code-based redirects), application routing logic (where redirectType selects the appropriate HTTP status), and content management workflows. It is common for redirectType to be configurable per route or resource, allowing precise control over redirect behavior.

See also: HTTP redirect status codes, SEO redirects, server configuration.