HandyBench

HTTP Headers Checker

See the redirect chain, response headers and security header coverage.

This check runs through this site's own server, so it works for any public URL — no CORS or browser restrictions.

How to use the HTTP Headers Checker

  1. 1 Enter a URL and click Check headers.
  2. 2 Follow the redirect chain hop by hop, with the status code at each step.
  3. 3 Review the final response's headers and the security header pass/miss summary.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the redirect chain matter for SEO?

Each extra hop adds latency and, historically, could dilute link equity. Aim for a single, direct 301 redirect straight to the final URL rather than a chain of several.

What do headers like Strict-Transport-Security and Content-Security-Policy do?

Strict-Transport-Security (HSTS) forces browsers to use HTTPS on future visits. Content-Security-Policy restricts which scripts and resources a page may load, reducing the risk of XSS. X-Frame-Options and X-Content-Type-Options block clickjacking and MIME-sniffing attacks respectively.

Why doesn't a well-known site show all these security headers?

Some sites apply security controls at a CDN or WAF layer that strips or rewrites headers, or simply have not adopted every header — a missing header is a hardening opportunity, not necessarily proof of a vulnerability.

Do missing security headers hurt search rankings?

They are not a direct ranking factor the way HTTPS itself is, but they are a widely used trust and security signal, and a normal part of a technical SEO or security audit.

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