Redirect chain
Definition
A redirect chain is a sequence of two or more redirects between the original URL and the final destination (e.g. A -> B -> C).
Plain English
Instead of going straight to the right page, the browser bounces through multiple stops first.
Why it matters
- Each hop adds latency and risks losing link equity.
- Long chains can cause crawlers to give up before reaching the destination.
- Redirect loops (A -> B -> A) block access entirely.