How does a 301 redirect differ from a 302 redirect?

A 301 redirect and a 302 redirect are both methods used in web development and SEO to redirect one URL to another. However, they serve different purposes and have distinct implications:

1. **301 Redirect (Permanent Redirect):**
   - **Purpose:** Indicates that the original URL has permanently moved to a new location.
   - **SEO Impact:** Transfers the SEO equity (like link juice) from the original URL to the new URL. Search engines generally treat the new URL as the canonical (preferred) version over time.
   - **Browser Cache:** Browsers and search engines cache the redirect, meaning subsequent visits to the original URL may automatically redirect to the new URL without requesting the server.

   **Use Cases:** Use a 301 redirect when:
   - You have permanently moved a page to a new URL.
   - You have merged multiple pages into one.
   - You want to consolidate duplicate content under a single URL.

   **Example:** Redirecting `example.com/old-page` to `example.com/new-page`.

2. **302 Redirect (Temporary Redirect):**
   - **Purpose:** Indicates that the original URL has temporarily moved to a new location.
   - **SEO Impact:** Does not transfer SEO equity from the original URL to the new URL. Search engines continue to index and rank the original URL because they understand it may return in the future.
   - **Browser Cache:** Browsers typically do not cache 302 redirects, so each visit to the original URL may result in a request to the server.

   **Use Cases:** Use a 302 redirect when:
   - You are temporarily redirecting traffic to another page, but plan to bring the original page back.
   - You want to conduct A/B testing or temporarily redirect traffic for specific campaigns.

   **Example:** Redirecting `example.com/special-offer` to `example.com/new-offer-page` for a limited-time promotion.

### Key Differences:
- **SEO Impact:** 301 redirects are preferred for maintaining SEO rankings and transferring authority, while 302 redirects are used for temporary changes and do not pass SEO value.
- **User Experience:** 301 redirects are more seamless for users as they are cached, whereas 302 redirects may result in slower load times due to frequent server requests.

Choosing between a 301 and 302 redirect depends on your specific needs: permanent versus temporary URL changes. Always consider the SEO implications and user experience when implementing redirects on your website.