How to redirect one page to another

Where do I even put a redirect?

It depends on how your site is run, and that's the first thing to find out. Google says the way you set up a server-side redirect depends on your hosting and server, or the scripting language behind your site.¹

If you can't tell which you have, ask your host. Google's advice for servers it doesn't cover is to check with your server manager or hoster.¹

What if my site is on a hosted platform?

Look in its help pages first. Google's example platforms, Blogger and Shopify, may come with redirect tools already built in. Its suggestion is to search for a help article.¹

How do I do it on Apache?

Apache is a web server program. Its Redirect directive maps an old address to a new one by asking the client to refetch the page at the new location.² (A directive is one line of configuration.) It can go in the server config, a virtual host, a directory section or an .htaccess file.² That last one is a small settings file in a site's folder. MDN also notes redirects can be set in the main server config file or in a directory's .htaccess.³

The pattern looks like this.

• Temporary, the default: Redirect "/old-page" "https://example.com/new-page". If no status is given, Apache sends a temporary redirect (status 302).²
• Permanent: Redirect permanent "/old-page" "https://example.com/new-page". The permanent keyword returns a permanent redirect (status 301).²

The old path has to begin with a slash, and a relative path isn't allowed.² One more thing to watch: only complete path segments are matched. So a rule for /service won't catch /servicefoo.txt.²

Follow Apache's own documentation for your version, and keep a copy of the file before you edit it.

How do I do it on nginx?

In nginx, one way is a return line. The documentation says return can take a redirect address for the codes 301, 302, 303, 307 and 308.⁴ A permanent one for a single page looks like return 301 https://example.com/new-page;, and the temporary version swaps in 302.⁴

For pattern-based rules, nginx has rewrite. Pick the flag redirect for a temporary redirect (302) or permanent for a permanent one (301).⁴ The 301 and 302 page explains how to choose. MDN's guide to common servers shows nginx redirects built in a separate server block for the content you want to redirect.³

How do I do it in PHP?

If your site runs PHP, you can send the redirect from the script. Google says to use the header() function to set a permanent redirect, and the headers must be set before anything is sent to the screen.¹ You'd send a status line and a Location line, then stop the script. Google's page has the exact lines to copy.¹

How do I know it worked?

Don't trust the rule. Test the result. To see the status code and the final address, follow the steps in this checking guide. If a new rule clashes with an old one, the page on chains and loops helps.