A broken link is a hyperlink on a web page that points to a non-existent or inaccessible web page or server. These are often referred to as dead links or dangling pointers. The phenomenon of hyperlinks turning broken over time is known as link rot.
When a user attempts to access a broken link, the web server typically returns a standard error message. This is most commonly an “HTTP 404 Not Found error”. This response code indicates that the server is unable to locate the requested resource.
Causes
There are several reasons why a link might break.
The most frequent cause is that the destination web page has been moved or deleted without a proper redirection in place. This often occurs during website migrations or restructuring, when a webmaster changes the URL structure of a site and fails to update internal links.
Another common cause involves the destination website going offline permanently. This happens when a domain name expires or a hosting service is terminated.
Typos in the HTML code of the link itself can also lead to broken links. A misspelling in the URL protocol or domain name prevents the browser from connecting to the correct address.
Content filtering or firewall restrictions can sometimes block access to a destination, causing a link to appear broken to certain users.
Why should you care about broken links?
Broken links negatively affect both user experience and search engine optimization (SEO). Users who encounter dead links may feel frustrated and perceive the website as poorly maintained or untrustworthy. This can lead to increased bounce rates and reduced time on site.
Search engines use bots to crawl the web and index content. Broken links halt the crawling process and prevent these bots from indexing pages. This can result in a lower ranking in search engine results pages. The presence of many dead links is often interpreted by search algorithms as a sign of a low-quality or abandoned website.
Identification and remediation
Webmasters typically use various tools to detect broken links. Automated crawlers can scan a website and report any URLs that return error codes. Google Search Console is a common tool used to monitor crawling errors on sites owned by the user.
Remediation involves fixing or removing the problematic links. If a page has been moved, the preferred method is to implement a “301 redirect”. This forwards users and search engines to the new location of the content. If the content is permanently gone, a “410 Gone” status code may be used.
Webmasters can also create custom “404 error” pages to guide users back to active sections of the site when they encounter a broken link. More importantly, regular audits help maintain the integrity of the link structure.
Is My Website Okay allows you to scan for broken links on your website and perform this scan automatically every day, so you can be notified of any new broken links. Sign up for a free account today to try!