Enter a URL
Let’s break it down like we’re both sleep-deprived and running on iced coffee.
Say you have a website at:
arduino
https://example.com
But someone types:
arduino
https://www.example.com
Those are technically two different URLs.
Yup.
You heard that right. The www. isn’t just some friendly internet handshake. It’s a subdomain — like blog.example.com or store.example.com.
So if your site isn’t set up correctly, Google might see:
example.com/page
www.example.com/page
...as two different pages with the same content.
And when that happens?
Google’s like, “Cool. You’re trying to trick me. Here’s a ranking penalty.”
(Not really, but that’s the vibe.)
Enter the www Redirect Checker.
It’s a simple tool that tells you if your www and non-www versions of your domain are properly redirecting to each other — so Google (and visitors) don’t get confused.
Great question. Here’s what the tool does behind the scenes when you give it your URL:
Checks both versions of your domain:
https://example.com
https://www.example.com
Follows any redirect paths:
301 (permanent)
302 (temporary)
Meta refreshes
JavaScript-based redirects (in some tools)
Shows you the final destination:
Does www redirect to non-www?
Does non-www redirect to www?
Do they just not redirect and act like two separate sites? (red flag ?)
Checks for issues like:
Redirect chains (too many hops)
Broken redirects
HTTPS/SSL problems
Infinite redirect loops (you do not want this)
Basically, it tells you if your site is acting like one clean, unified domain… or two disjointed clones screaming into the SEO void.
Some people think this is “just technical junk.”
But here’s why it matters more than you might think:
Google HATES duplicate content.
If it sees the same page at two URLs (www and non-www), that’s a problem.
Search engines want to know:
“Which version of your site should I trust, index, and rank?”
Redirects make that decision obvious.
Let’s say some sites link to your www. version and others to your non-www. version.
If they don’t redirect to the same place, you’re splitting your backlink authority.
Ouch.
Two domains = two sets of data.
It messes up traffic tracking, referral info, and campaign performance.
Some SSL certs only work for www or non-www. Without a redirect, your visitors might get security warnings or no site at all.
You don’t need fancy tools or coding knowledge to check this stuff. Just copy, paste, and watch the results.
Here are the tools that get the job done:
Simple, no-nonsense UI
Tells you instantly if redirects are in place
Great for quick checks
Visual breakdown of each hop (with status codes)
Also shows final destination URL
Detects redirect chains and loops
Developer-friendly
Shows full HTTP response chain
Includes headers and detailed redirect info
Part of a larger SEO toolkit
Free tier includes basic redirect checking
Bonus: highlights redirect issues for SEO
Traces up to 10 redirects
Great for tracking complex URL chains
Easy to visualize the full path
Okay, so maybe you ran your site through a www Redirect Checker and got some bad news.
Here’s how you fix it:
Decide: Do you want your site to live at www.example.com or just example.com?
There's no wrong answer — just pick one and be consistent.
Example (redirect www to non-www):
apache
RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^www\.(.*)$ [NC] RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%1/$1 [L,R=301]
Or, redirect non-www to www:
apache
RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^www\. [NC] RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://www.%{HTTP_HOST}/$1 [L,R=301]
Some platforms (like Cloudflare, SiteGround, etc.) let you set preferred URLs without touching code.
Use the "Change of Address" tool to tell Google which version to index.
Here’s how people mess this up — don’t be one of them:
Don’t set up conflicting rules that send users back and forth forever. It breaks the internet and fries your SEO.
Your navigation should only use one version — otherwise, you’re spreading link juice too thin.
302 = temporary.
301 = permanent (and passes SEO value).
Always go with 301 when setting your main domain.
Always force HTTPS + your preferred domain. Example:
apache
RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off [OR] RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} !^www\. [NC] RewriteRule ^ https://www.example.com%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]
Ah, the age-old question. Here’s the tea:
www.:Slightly more flexible with CDN and DNS configurations
Can help with cookie-less subdomains for static content
Feels more “traditional” and globally recognized
www.:Cleaner, shorter, more modern
Fewer characters in branding
No functional difference for most users
Pick what fits your vibe. Just stay consistent. And redirect everything else to it.
Honestly? This isn’t the sexiest part of SEO or web dev.
You’re not designing new pages or crafting killer content.
You’re literally just… making sure one URL points to another.
But that tiny behind-the-scenes move?
It protects your SEO.
It improves your UX.
It prevents technical hell.
So if you haven’t yet — run a www Redirect Check on your site.
Fix the split. Claim your digital identity. Be the boss of your own domain.
Your traffic, rankings, and sanity will thank you.
