Redirect Chain

A redirect chain occurs when a URL redirects to a second URL, which redirects to a third (or more), before reaching the final destination. Each hop in the chain introduces additional latency and causes incremental [[link-equity|link equity]] loss. Search engines follow chains but prefer single-hop [[301-redirect|301 redirects]]. Redirect chains commonly accumulate during [[domain-migration|domain migrations]], site redesigns, or when legacy redirect rules are stacked on top of each other without cleanup. Best practice is to audit and collapse all chains to a single direct redirect.