Back to glossary
QR & URL Intelligence
What Is Redirect?
A redirect sends a browser, scanner, or crawler from one URL to another URL.
Updated 2026-06-17
Quick Definition
A redirect sends a browser, scanner, or crawler from one URL to another URL.
Expanded explanation
Redirects are used for short links, tracking links, migrations, campaign routing, and destination management.
Why it matters
Redirects control where users actually land and whether tracking parameters survive the trip. Poor redirect handling can break attribution, QR destinations, and campaign QA.
Common mistakes
- Not checking whether UTM parameters survive a redirect.
- Using multiple redirects without documenting the destination path.
- Assuming the visible short URL or branded link is the final destination.
Examples
301 redirect
302 redirect
JavaScript redirect
Practical example
A QR code may point to short.example/sale, which redirects to a tracking domain and then to the final landing page.