# What is 302 redirect?

A 302 redirect is a temporary redirect that sends users to a different URL while telling search engines the move is provisional, so the original URL should stay indexed and keep its ranking signals.

## How it works

A 302 is appropriate when a redirect is genuinely temporary: A/B tests, short-term promotions, geographic or device routing, or a page that is briefly down. Engines keep the original indexed and do not transfer authority to the temporary target.

Problems arise when 302s are used by default, often a server or CMS misconfiguration, for changes that are actually permanent. Engines may eventually treat a long-lived 302 as a 301, but that ambiguity costs time and signal clarity.

## 302 vs 301

The difference is permanence and where signals end up. A 301 says this move is final, consolidate onto the new URL; a 302 says this is temporary, keep the old URL. Choosing the wrong one either strands authority on a dead URL or fails to consolidate it where you want it.

## Why it matters for B2B

For AI citation stability you almost always want 301s, not 302s, for real moves, because a 302 keeps the engine pointed at a URL you intend to abandon. The practical rule when restructuring the glossary: temporary routing gets a 302, but any permanent path change gets a 301, so signals and citations follow the content to its lasting home.

## Frequently asked questions

**What is a 302 redirect?**

A 302 redirect is a temporary redirect that sends users to a different URL while telling search engines the move is provisional, so the original URL stays indexed and keeps its signals.

**When should you use a 302 redirect?**

Use a 302 only when the redirect is genuinely temporary: A/B tests, short promotions, brief maintenance, or device and geo routing. For any permanent move, use a 301 instead.

**What is the difference between a 301 and a 302 redirect?**

A 301 is permanent and consolidates ranking signals onto the new URL; a 302 is temporary and keeps the original URL indexed. Using a 302 for a permanent move delays signal transfer.

**How do you change a 302 redirect to a 301?**

Update the redirect rule in your server config, CMS, or CDN to return a 301 status instead of 302, then confirm the new status code with a redirect checker or your logs.

**Common mistake**

Using a 302 (temporary) for a permanent move. It tells engines to keep the original URL indexed, so ranking signals never consolidate on the new one. Use a 301 for anything permanent.

*Source: https://rawmktg.com/glossary/302-redirect · rawmktg. by Vinayak Ravi*