The page that you wanted to go to has automatically redirected you to a different page.

It is useful to know when this is happening because you might have been moved onto a site that you don't want to go to.

So, for example, if you are automatically moved from one company's website to another's you'll be able to recognise it.

Why redirect

To see an example of a redirect type the address below into your address bar. Watch what happens to the address after you press the enter key and then use the back button to come back here.

www.bbc.co.uk/becomingwebwise

Did you see that the address changed to www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/learn/ index.shtml? That's because we wrote some code in the page telling your browser to move on to that address.

Webmasters generally use redirects if they move a page to send you on to the correct page. They also might use it if they move all their pages to a new web server. It's to make sure people end up in the right place.

So, for example, if I moved my website from www.bbc.co.uk/askbruce to www.bruceisgreat.co.uk I could try and put a redirect on the BBC pages - if they would let me!

Redirect naughtiness

If you are being moved from a secure page to an insecure page your browser will tell you.

It is important because you need to know if you are in a safe area to give private information or credit card details.

Remember that you'll always be able to tell that you have been redirected because the address in the address bar will be different than the one you entered.