Using the correct redirect plays a crucial role. A 301 redirect ensures that users are seamlessly directed to the new page without any disruption or delay. For instance, if a user tries to access an old product page permanently replaced with an updated version, implementing a 301 redirect will automatically take them to the new product page, providing a smooth and uninterrupted browsing experience.

Moreover, from an SEO standpoint, maintaining a good user experience is essential for website rankings. By employing 301 redirects appropriately when content has been relocated or removed, website owners can ensure that visitors are not met with dead ends or broken links. This contributes positively to overall user satisfaction and engagement on the site.

In contrast, 302 redirects indicate temporary moves and may not be as effective in preserving user experience. When utilizing this type of redirection for permanent changes on a website, users might encounter issues such as outdated content still appearing in search results or being redirected back and forth between different URLs unnecessarily.

Proper URL redirection significantly impacts search performance by influencing how search engines index web pages. When implementing 301 redirects for obsolete URLs or outdated content instead of using 302 redirects, websites signal to search engine crawlers that the change is permanent and should be reflected accordingly in their indexes. As a result, link equity (also known as link juice) from the original URL is transferred over to the new one through this type of redirection.

This means that any backlinks pointing to the old URL will pass on their value to the new destination when utilizing 301 redirects effectively. In turn, this helps maintain organic traffic levels even after making significant changes within a website's structure or content hierarchy.

On the other hand, 302 redirects do not transfer link equity as 301s do since they signify temporary moves rather than permanent ones.