ErrorFindly
3023xx RedirectionLow

HTTP 302 Found

Defined in RFC 7231

What Does HTTP 302 Mean?

The requested resource temporarily resides at a different URL. The client should continue to use the original URL for future requests.

Common Causes

  1. 1Temporary page redirect during maintenance
  2. 2A/B testing redirecting to variant pages
  3. 3Login redirect to authentication page
  4. 4Geolocation-based content redirects

Impact

  • ⚠Browser redirects temporarily to another URL
  • ⚠Original URL should still be bookmarked

Developer Fix

For web developers and application engineers

  1. 1Use 302 only for genuinely temporary redirects
  2. 2Switch to 301 if the redirect is permanent
  3. 3Use 307 if the request method must be preserved

Server Admin Fix

For system administrators and DevOps engineers

  1. 1Review 302 redirects periodically — convert stale ones to 301
  2. 2Monitor redirect chains that may include 302s
  3. 3Ensure temporary redirects are actually temporary

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use 302 or 307?
Use 307 when you need to guarantee the HTTP method is preserved (e.g., POST stays POST). 302 historically allowed method changes on redirect, though modern browsers typically preserve the method.
Will a 302 hurt my SEO?
Temporary 302 redirects don't pass full link equity like 301s. If a redirect is permanent, using 302 instead of 301 may result in search engines not transferring ranking value to the new URL.

Related HTTP Status Codes

301Moved Permanently303See Other307Temporary Redirect

About the Author

Web Infrastructure Team

Verified against official RFC specifications and real-world server configurations. HTTP status code behavior confirmed across Apache, Nginx, and Cloudflare.