Broken link

What is a broken link?

A broken link is a hyperlink on a website that no longer leads to its intended destination. When a user clicks on a broken link, instead of reaching the expected content, they encounter an error page—most commonly a "404 Not Found" error. Broken links create dead ends in the user's journey through your website or from external sites to yours. They appear as normal links in the content, giving no visual indication that they're broken until clicked, at which point the user experiences an interruption in their browsing experience.

Why do broken links happen?

Broken links occur for several reasons. Website migrations or redesigns often change URL structures without properly redirecting old URLs to new ones. Content deletion without implementing redirects instantly creates broken links anywhere that content was referenced. Typos in manually entered URLs can create broken links from the start. Domain name expirations or changes make all links to the previous domain broken. External links break when the destination site removes or relocates content without redirects. Even temporary server issues can cause links to appear broken, though these resolve once the server is functioning properly again.

How do broken links affect SEO?

Broken links significantly damage your SEO efforts. Search engines interpret broken links as signs of a poorly maintained website, which can negatively impact your rankings. When search engine crawlers encounter broken links, they waste your crawl budget on dead ends rather than discovering and indexing valuable content. High bounce rates from users encountering broken links signal poor user experience to search algorithms. Link equity that would normally flow through your site gets stopped at broken links, preventing it from strengthening related pages. External broken links to your site represent missed opportunities for traffic and authority building. Each broken link essentially creates a small crack in your site's SEO foundation.

How can you find broken links on your website?

Finding broken links requires a systematic approach. Website crawling tools like Screaming Frog or DeepCrawl can scan your entire site and generate reports of all broken links. Google Search Console identifies 404 errors that Google's crawlers have encountered on your site. Browser extensions like Check My Links or Broken Link Checker can highlight broken links on individual pages as you browse. Server logs reveal 404 errors that users and bots have actually encountered. For smaller sites, manual checking of important pages can catch critical broken links. Regular automated scanning is essential as new broken links can appear over time through content changes or external site modifications.

What are the best practices for fixing broken links?

Implement 301 redirects to point broken URLs to the most relevant existing content, preserving user experience and link equity. Update internal links throughout your site to point directly to current URLs rather than relying on redirects. Create a custom 404 error page that helps users find what they're looking for through search functionality and links to popular content. For broken links to external sites that you control in your content, update them to point to current resources. When external sites link to broken pages on your site, reach out to request updates to their links. Conduct regular link audits to catch and fix broken links before they impact users and search performance. Maintain a redirect map during site migrations to ensure all valuable old URLs properly redirect to new destinations.