What are Broken Links and Dead Links?
Have you ever clicked on a link and found yourself faced with an error page? It’s frustrating, right? Well, that’s the result of encountering a broken link or a dead link. In this blog post, we’ll explain what these terms mean and how they occur on the Internet.
Broken Links:
A broken link is a hyperlink on a webpage that no longer points to its intended destination. Instead, when clicked, it leads to an error page (404 error page, to be specific) or simply fails to load any information at all. The link is “broken” because the webpage it points to has been moved, deleted, or its URL has been modified.
Broken links can harm user experience and hinder the accessibility of information on the web. They often occur when a website updates its structure or undergoes content changes without updating or properly redirecting the existing links. They can also result from mistyped URLs or typographical errors in hyperlink coding.
Dead Links:
Dead links, also known as link rot, refer to URLs that no longer lead to an active webpage. Rather than generating an error page, clicking on a dead link will cause the browser to display a blank page or to simply ‘time out’ with no response. Dead links can occur for various reasons, and they can be frustrating for users who are trying to access specific information.
One main cause of dead links is when a webpage or website ceases to exist entirely, meaning the URL is no longer associated with a legitimate page. Additionally, dead links can occur if the website hosting the linked content is down due to technical issues or if the URL has been improperly input or modified.
How to detect and address broken and dead links:
Webmasters and website owners have several methods for detecting broken and dead links on their sites. They can employ specialized software or online tools to scan and monitor their webpages for such links. Once identified, these links can be fixed through various methods, such as updating the destination URL or creating redirects to valid pages.
Regularly performing link audits and maintenance on websites helps ensure a positive user experience by minimizing the occurrence of broken and dead links. It’s also advisable to perform thorough checks after making any significant changes to a website’s structure or content.
In conclusion, broken links and dead links are common occurrences on the Internet, resulting from outdated or incorrect URLs, website changes, or technical issues. They can hinder the user experience and accessibility of information. Webmasters and website owners must be proactive in detecting and addressing these issues to maintain a reliable and user-friendly online presence.
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