How do 301 and 302 redirects impact Technical SEO?

301 and 302 redirects are HTTP status codes used to redirect users and search engine bots from one URL to another. While both types of redirects serve a similar purpose, they have different implications for Technical SEO:

1. **301 Redirect**:
   - **Impact on SEO**: A 301 redirect signifies that the original URL has been permanently moved to a new location. From an SEO perspective, this redirect is crucial because it passes the majority of the original page's ranking signals, such as backlinks and authority, to the new URL. Search engines recognize the 301 redirect as a signal to update their index and attribute the ranking value of the old URL to the new one.
   - **Use Cases**: Use 301 redirects when permanently moving content, changing URLs, or consolidating multiple pages into one. It's the preferred choice for SEO purposes because it ensures that the redirected page retains its ranking potential.

2. **302 Redirect**:
   - **Impact on SEO**: A 302 redirect indicates that the original URL has been temporarily moved to a different location. Unlike a 301 redirect, a 302 redirect does not transfer the ranking signals from the original URL to the new one. Instead, search engines keep the original URL indexed and may not pass ranking value to the redirected URL.
   - **Use Cases**: Use 302 redirects for temporary changes or experiments where you intend to revert to the original URL in the future. However, be cautious with 302 redirects in SEO because search engines may interpret them differently, and they might not pass ranking value as intended.

In summary, the choice between 301 and 302 redirects can significantly impact Technical SEO:

- Use 301 redirects for permanent URL changes to ensure the transfer of ranking signals and maintain SEO equity.
- Reserve 302 redirects for temporary changes, experiments, or situations where you plan to revert to the original URL in the future. Avoid using 302 redirects for permanent changes that require SEO considerations.