What is an HTML redirect?

An HTML redirect is a command that forwards a user's web browser from one web address to another. Redirects are used when pages have moved, to allow more than one web address to lead to a site or to direct users from commonly mistyped addresses to the correct address.

HTML redirects are also used for malicious purposes. They can be added when legitimate sites are compromised, sending users to an unsafe site while they believe they are still on the original page. It is possible to add a warning to an HTML redirect, warning the user he or she is about to move to a different site — this is also common when sites change addresses and want users to take note of the updated information.