Broken Links: What They Are, Why They Matter, and How to Find & Fix Them

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Links are the backbone of the web. With a simple click, users can access information, resources, and websites from around the world. However, in the vast digital landscape, links are often broken, which can cause frustration for visitors and negatively impact user experience.

In this article, we'll explore what broken links are, why they're important, and how you can find and fix them to keep your website in top shape.

Table of contents

What are broken links?
Why are broken links important?
How to find broken links?
How to fix broken links?
What are broken links?
A broken link, also known as a dead link or broken link, is a hyperlink that points to a web page that no longer exists or has been removed. When a user clicks on a broken link, instead of being ig database to the destination page, they are presented with a 404 error or similar error page.

Broken links are common on the web and can occur for a variety of reasons, including a page's URL being changed, content being removed, or a lack of website maintenance.

Why are broken links important?
Broken links can have a negative impact on several key aspects:

1. User Experience: Visitors who encounter broken links may become frustrated and disappointed. This can lead them to leave your website and look for information elsewhere, resulting in a loss of traffic and potential customers.

2. SEO: Search engines like Google value the quality of the user experience. Broken links can affect your ranking in search results as they indicate that your website is not well maintained.

3. Reputation: Broken links can damage your website's reputation, making it appear untrustworthy or outdated.

How to find broken links?
Finding broken links on your website is essential to maintaining its quality and functionality. Here are some ways to do it:

1. Online Tools: You can use tools like Broken Link Checker or Screaming Frog SEO Spider to scan your site for broken links. These tools will provide you with detailed reports on the problematic links.

2. Google Search Console: This Google tool allows you to monitor the health of your website and will notify you if it finds broken links.

3. Manual Check: Browse your website regularly and click on links to make sure they work properly.

How to fix broken links?
Once you've identified the broken links, it's time to fix them. Here are some actions you can take:

1. Update the URL: If the landing page has changed, update the link with the new URL.

2. Redirect: If a page has been moved or deleted, create 301 redirects to direct users to the new location or a relevant page.

3. Remove outdated links: If you can't fix a broken link and it's no longer relevant, it's best to remove it altogether.