Forward vs. Redirect — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 8, 2024
Forwarding involves passing something on to another destination while maintaining the original course, while redirecting involves changing the direction or path to a new destination.
Difference Between Forward and Redirect
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Forwarding, in the context of communications or logistics, means sending something received from the original source to another recipient or location without altering the original content or path significantly. Redirecting, on the other hand, involves changing the course or destination from the originally intended one to a new one. This could involve changing the address to which a web browser is pointed or altering the recipient of a package to a new address.
In digital communications, forwarding is often used to share information received from one source with another party, keeping the content intact. Redirecting in this context might involve changing the destination URL a link points to, effectively taking the user to a completely different site or page than originally intended.
In physical logistics or mail services, forwarding might mean sending mail received at one address to another address, for example, when someone moves houses. Redirecting in this context could involve changing the delivery path of a package in transit to a new destination, perhaps due to an error or change in plans.
The intent behind forwarding is usually to share or pass along information or items without fundamentally changing them, whereas redirecting often has the intent of changing the end destination or outcome, reflecting a more deliberate or significant alteration in course.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Passing something on without altering its path significantly.
Changing the direction or destination to a new one.
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Context
Often used in communications and logistics.
Common in web navigation, logistics, and communications.
Intent
To share or pass along information or items.
To change the destination or outcome.
Change
Minimal to none in the content or item being forwarded.
Significant, involving a new path or destination.
Example
Forwarding an email to another recipient.
Changing the URL a web link directs to.
Compare with Definitions
Forward
In email, to send a received message to another person.
I forwarded the email with the meeting agenda to all attendees.
Redirect
To change the course or destination to a new one.
The traffic was redirected due to the road construction.
Forward
To send something received to another destination.
She forwarded the urgent message to her supervisor for immediate attention.
Redirect
To change the recipient or destination of a message or package.
The delivery was redirected to the client's home address instead of the office.
Forward
In logistics, to send goods or mail to another location.
The courier service forwarded the package to the new office address.
Redirect
In web navigation, to send users to a different URL.
The old website link automatically redirects visitors to the new site.
Forward
In the direction that one is facing or travelling; towards the front
He started up the engine and the car moved forward
Rory leaned forward over the table
Redirect
To cause to move in a different direction or go to a different destination
Redirected the flight to Dallas.
Redirected the request to a different department.
Forward
Onward so as to make progress
The signing of the treaty is a big step forward
Redirect
To give directions for an alternate destination to (someone).
Forward
Towards the future; ahead in time
Looking forward, earnings are expected to hit £7.2 billion
Redirect
To change the object or focus of (attention).
Forward
Directed or facing towards the front or the direction that one is facing or travelling
The pilot's forward view
Forward flight
Redirect
(Law) A redirect examination.
Forward
Relating to the future
A twelve-month forward forecast
Redirect
(Sports) A deflection by one player of a shot or pass by a teammate, as in hockey.
Forward
Progressing towards a successful conclusion
The decision is a forward step
Redirect
(Computers) A website that serves only to guide users to another website, typically when a website at one URL has been moved to a different URL.
Forward
(of a person) bold or overfamiliar in manner
I am not usually a forward sort of person
Redirect
(transitive) To give new direction to, change the direction of.
Redirect output to /dev/null
Forward
An attacking player in football, hockey, or other sports.
Redirect
(transitive) To instruct to go, inquire, elsewhere.
Forward
Agreements to trade specified assets, typically currency, at a specified price at a certain future date.
Redirect
To substitute an address or pointer to a new location.
Forward
Send (a letter or email) on to a further destination
I recently received an email forwarded from a friend
My emails were forwarded to a friend
Redirect
(computing) To send to a new location by substituting an address or pointer. transivity?
You will be redirected shortly.
Forward
Help to advance (something); promote
The scientists are forwarding the development of biotechnology
Redirect
A redirection.
Forward
At, near, or belonging to the front or forepart; fore
The forward section of the aircraft.
Redirect
(legal) An examination of a witness, following cross-examination, by the party that conducted the direct examination.
Forward
Located ahead or in advance
Kept her eye on the forward horizon.
Redirect
(computing) The substitution of one address or identifier for another one, so as to navigate to a different location.
Forward
Going, tending, or moving toward a position in front
A forward plunge down a flight of stairs.
Redirect
Applied to the examination of a witness, by the party calling him, after the cross-examination.
Forward
(Sports) Advancing toward an opponent's goal.
Forward
Moving in a prescribed direction or order for normal use
Forward rolling of the cassette tape.
Forward
Ardently inclined; eager.
Forward
Lacking restraint or modesty; presumptuous or bold
A forward child.
Forward
Being ahead of current economic, political, or technological trends; progressive
A forward concept.
Forward
Deviating radically from convention or tradition; extreme.
Forward
Exceptionally advanced; precocious.
Forward
Of, relating to, or done in preparation for the future
A rise in the forward price of corn.
Forward
Toward or tending to the front; frontward
Step forward.
Forward
Into consideration
Put forward a new proposal.
Forward
In or toward the future
Looking forward to seeing you.
Forward
In the prescribed direction or sequence for normal use
Rolled the tape forward.
Forward
In an advanced position or a configuration registering a future time
Set the clock forward.
Forward
At or to a different time; earlier or later
Moved the appointment forward, from Friday to Thursday. See Usage Note at backward.
Forward
A player in certain games, such as basketball, soccer, or hockey, who is part of the forward line of the offense.
Forward
The position played by such a person.
Forward
To send on to a subsequent destination or address.
Forward
Situated toward or at the front of something.
The fire was confined to the forward portion of the store.
The forward gun in a ship, the forward ship in a fleet
Forward
(of troops, guns etc.) Situated toward or near the enemy lines.
The forward battalion took a hammering.
Forward
Acting in or pertaining to the direction in which someone or something is facing.
My forward vision is fine, but my peripheral vision is poor.
Forward
Acting in or pertaining to the direction of travel or movement.
Forward motion, forward thrust, forward momentum
Forward
(figuratively) Moving in the desired direction of progress.
This is an important forward step for the country.
Forward
Having the usual order or sequence.
The front of the fire engine has backward writing, that can be read in a mirror, as well as forward writing.
Forward
Expected or scheduled to take place in the future.
The stock price is currently 12 times forward earnings.
The price for forward delivery is presently higher than the spot price.
Forward
Advanced beyond the usual degree; advanced for the season; precocious.
These students are very forward in their learning.
The grass is forward, or forward for the season. We have a forward spring.
Forward
Without customary restraint or modesty; bold, cheeky, pert, presumptuous or pushy.
She is a very forward young lady, not afraid to speak her mind.
Forward
(obsolete) Ready; prompt; ardently inclined; in a bad sense, eager or hasty.
Forward
At, near or towards the front of something.
She was sitting well forward in the railway carriage.
The bus driver told everyone standing up to move forward.
Forward
(nautical) At, near, or towards the bow of a vessel (with the frame of reference within the vessel).
Forward
In the direction in which someone or something is facing.
I leant forward to get a better look.
The grandfather clock toppled forward and crashed to the ground.
Forward
In the desired or usual direction of movement or progress, physically or figuratively; onwards.
After spending an hour stuck in the mud, we could once again move forward.
Wind the film forward a few frames.
Don't forget to put the clocks forward by one hour tonight!
We need to move this project forward.
Forward
So that front and back are in the usual orientation.
Don't wear your baseball cap backward; turn it forward.
Forward
In the usual order or sequence.
A palindrome reads the same backward as forward.
Forward
Into the future.
From this day forward, there will be no more brussels sprouts at the cafeteria.
Forward
To an earlier point in time. See also bring forward.
The meeting has been moved forward an hour. It was at 3 o'clock; now it's at 2 o'clock.
Forward
(transitive) To advance, promote.
He did all he could to forward the interests of the school.
Forward
(transitive) To send (a letter, email etc.) on to a third party.
I'll be glad to forward your mail to you while you're gone.
Forward
To assemble (a book) by sewing sections, attaching cover boards, and so on.
Forward
(rugby) One of the eight players (comprising two props, one hooker, two locks, two flankers and one number eight, collectively known as the pack) whose primary task is to gain and maintain possession of the ball (compare back).
Forward
(soccer) A player on a team in football (soccer) in the row nearest to the opposing team's goal, who are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals.
Forward
(ice hockey) An umbrella term for a centre or winger in ice hockey.
Forward
(basketball) The small forward or power forward position; two frontcourt positions that are taller than guards but shorter than centers.
Forward
(nautical) The front part of a vessel.
Forward
(Internet) An e-mail message that is forwarded to another recipient or recipients; an electronic chain letter.
Forward
(finance) A direct agreement between two parties to buy or sell an asset at a specific point in the future; distinguished from a futures contract in that the latter is standardized and traded on an exchange.
Forward contract
Forward
Misspelling of foreword.
Forward
Agreement; covenant.
Forward
An agreement; a covenant; a promise.
Tell us a tale anon, as forward is.
Forward
Toward a part or place before or in front; onward; in advance; progressively; - opposed to backward.
Forward
Near, or at the fore part; in advance of something else; as, the forward gun in a ship, or the forward ship in a fleet.
Forward
Ready; prompt; strongly inclined; in an ill sense, overready; too hasty.
Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
Nor do we find him forward to be sounded.
Forward
Ardent; eager; earnest; in an ill sense, less reserved or modest than is proper; bold; confident; as, the boy is too forward for his years.
I have known men disagreeably forward from their shyness.
Forward
Advanced beyond the usual degree; advanced for the season; as, the grass is forward, or forward for the season; we have a forward spring.
The most forward budIs eaten by the canker ere it blow.
Forward
To help onward; to advance; to promote; to accelerate; to quicken; to hasten; as, to forward the growth of a plant; to forward one in improvement.
Forward
To send forward; to send toward the place of destination; to transmit; as, to forward a letter.
Forward
The person who plays the position of forward on a basketball team
Forward
A position on a basketball team
Forward
Send or ship onward from an intermediate post or station in transit;
Forward my mail
Forward
At or near or directed toward the front;
The forward section of the aircraft
A forward plunge down the stairs
Forward motion
Forward
Moving toward a position ahead;
Forward motion
The onward course of events
Forward
Used of temperament or behavior; lacking restraint or modesty;
A forward child badly in need of discipline
Forward
Of the transmission gear causing forward movement in a motor vehicle;
In a forward gear
Forward
Moving forward
Forward
Situated at or toward the front;
The fore cabins
The forward part of the ship
Forward
Situated in the front;
The forward section of the aircraft
Forward
At or to or toward the front;
He faced forward
Step forward
She practiced sewing backward as well as frontward on her new sewing machine
Forward
Forward in time or order or degree;
From that time forth
From the sixth century onward
Forward
Toward the future; forward in time;
I like to look ahead in imagination to what the future may bring
I look forward to seeing you
Forward
In a forward direction;
Go ahead
The train moved ahead slowly
The boat lurched ahead
Moved onward into the forest
They went slowly forward in the mud
Forward
Near or toward the bow of a ship or cockpit of a plane;
The captain went fore (or forward) to check the instruments
Common Curiosities
Can you forward physical items, or is it just a digital term?
Forwarding can apply to both digital communications, like emails, and physical items, such as mail or packages.
What is a common use of redirecting in digital marketing?
In digital marketing, redirecting is often used to guide users from outdated or promotional URLs to current landing pages, maximizing the effectiveness of campaigns.
Can forwarding involve any change to the content?
Typically, forwarding does not involve changing the content; it's more about passing the content as is to another recipient or location.
Are there security concerns with forwarding or redirecting?
Both actions can have security implications, such as forwarding sensitive information to unintended recipients or malicious redirects leading users to harmful sites.
Is redirecting always intentional?
Redirecting is usually intentional, as it involves changing the original path or destination to a new one, often for a specific purpose.
Is forwarding faster than redirecting?
The speed isn't necessarily inherent to the action of forwarding or redirecting but depends on the specific processes and systems involved in each case.
Can redirecting affect SEO?
Yes, improper use of redirects can impact SEO negatively, but when used correctly, they can preserve or enhance site rankings.
How do forwarding and redirecting impact user experience?
Proper forwarding can enhance user experience by efficiently sharing relevant information, while effective redirecting ensures users reach their intended destinations smoothly, contributing to a positive user experience.
Can you reverse a forward or redirect?
While forwarding actions can often be followed up with corrections, reversing a redirect involves changing the redirection settings or rules back or to another destination.
How do forwarding and redirecting relate to network traffic management?
In network management, forwarding can relate to routing traffic through specific paths, while redirecting can involve rerouting traffic for load balancing, security, or performance reasons.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
