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WWW Redirect Check

The WWW redirect check validates whether your website properly handles www and non-www versions of your domain, ensuring users always reach the canonical URL.

What this check validates

  • ✅ Consistent redirects - www and non-www versions redirect to the same canonical URL
  • ✅ Proper status codes - Uses 301 (permanent) redirects for SEO benefits
  • ✅ All pages covered - Redirects work across all website URLs
  • ✅ No redirect loops - Avoids infinite redirect chains
  • ✅ HTTPS consistency - Maintains secure connections through redirects

Why WWW redirects matter

  • SEO Benefits: Prevents duplicate content penalties from search engines
  • User Experience: Ensures consistent branding and URL structure
  • Link Equity: Consolidates all backlinks to a single canonical domain
  • Analytics Accuracy: Prevents traffic splitting between www/non-www versions

How WWW redirects work

Your website should choose one canonical format and redirect the other:

# Option 1: Redirect www to non-www
https://www.example.com → https://example.com
https://www.example.com/page → https://example.com/page

# Option 2: Redirect non-www to www
https://example.com → https://www.example.com
https://example.com/page → https://www.example.com/page

Common redirect patterns

# Non-WWW as canonical (most common)
www.example.com → example.com
http://www.example.com → https://example.com
http://example.com → https://example.com

# WWW as canonical
example.com → www.example.com
http://example.com → https://www.example.com
http://www.example.com → https://www.example.com

Best practices

  • Choose one format: Decide on www or non-www as your canonical version
  • 301 redirects: Use permanent redirects to preserve SEO value
  • Update internal links: Use canonical URLs in your internal linking
  • DNS configuration: Ensure both versions resolve to your server

Common issues

  • No redirect: Both www and non-www versions load without redirecting
  • Wrong direction: Redirecting to non-canonical version
  • 302 redirects: Using temporary instead of permanent redirects
  • Redirect chains: Multiple redirects before reaching final URL
  • Mixed protocols: Inconsistent HTTP/HTTPS handling
  • Missing pages: Some URLs redirect while others don't