What to test

Test the exact public URLs users and crawlers can request: http, https, www, non-www, slash, no-slash, and old .html paths.

  • The preferred version should return 200.
  • Alternate versions should redirect cleanly to the preferred URL.

How to interpret results

A 200 means the server returned a page. A 301 or 308 means a permanent redirect. A 302 or 307 is temporary. A 404 means not found. A 500-level status means server failure.

  • Redirect chains add delay and confusion.
  • A final 404 after redirects is still a failed path.

Why repeated tests matter

Some problems are intermittent. A route that returns 200 once and 404 later should be treated as unstable even if a single check passes.

  • Use browser-like GET requests when investigating problems that only appear in Lighthouse or browsers.

FAQ

Is a 301 bad for SEO?

No. A clean 301 from an alternate URL to the canonical URL is normal. Chains and loops are the problem.

Should every page return 200?

Every canonical indexable page should return 200. Alternate paths can redirect, and missing pages should return a true 404.

Need a second set of eyes?

Run a scan, compare the finding to the right guide, and ask for support before changing risky SEO or server settings.

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