302 Temporary redirects get indexed?

[Rearden]

I run a site that has some searchable content divided into various large categories. I set up various "<category>._____.com" pages which use Apache mod_rewrite to make a 302 temporary redirect to the real, harder-to-read URL.

Which one will be indexed in Google? Since it is set as a temporary redirect, it should use the nice simple URL, correct?

If not, what would be the best way to have the user-friendly URL get picked up? I'd prefer to avoid making separate pages for each one since there are a large number of categories involved.

[Rearden]

Any ideas, anybody?

[xlcus]

If you're using mod_rewrite, then don't use any kind of 30x rewrite. Use an internal rewrite instead...

RewriteRule ^short/url/$ location/of/page.php

i.e. Don't put [R] or [R=302] at the end.

[xlcus]

...this will make it look like the content is at the simple URL without any browser side redirecting at all.

[jdMorgan]

Rearden,

> Since it is set as a temporary redirect, it should use the nice simple URL, correct?

Yes, it should with a 302. But I agree with xlcus: use an internal redirect instead. I'd also add the [L] flag unless there is a good reason not to:

RewriteRule ^short/url$ /location/of/page.php [L]

Jim