redirectketens

Redirectketens are sequences of HTTP redirects where a URL redirects to another URL, which may in turn redirect again, forming a chain that ends at a final destination. They occur when multiple redirects are in place rather than a single direct redirect.

Common causes include site migrations and URL restructurings, changes in content management systems, misapplied canonicalization, and legacy links or bookmarks that point to intermediate URLs. Over time, redirects can accumulate, especially after iterative updates or incomplete migrations.

The presence of redirect chains can have several consequences. Each hop adds latency, increasing page load times for users and search engine crawlers. Search engines may spend crawl budget following multiple redirects, which can delay indexing of the final content. Link equity can be diluted across hops, and longer chains increase the risk of broken redirects or outdated content if intermediates are modified or removed.

Diagnosis involves crawling the site with SEO tools to identify chains and measure hop counts, status codes (301, 302, etc.), and potential loops. It is important to ensure there are no redirect loops and that the final destination is correct.

Mitigation and best practices include replacing chains with direct redirects from the original URL to the final URL, ideally using a single 301 redirect for permanent migrations. Update internal links, sitemaps, and canonical tags accordingly, and routinely audit redirects after site changes. Maintaining short, stable redirect paths helps preserve crawl efficiency and link equity.