Broken link

A broken link or dead link is a hyperlink on a web page that no longer works because it's encountering one or more of the issues listed below.

Reasons for broken links

• An incorrect URL (Uniform Resource Locator) entered for the link by the website owner.
• The destination website removed the linked web page (causing what is known as a 404 error).
• The destination website or web page permanently moved or no longer exists.
• The user has software or is behind a firewall that blocks access to the destination website.
• The website owner linked to a site that is behind a firewall that does not allow outside access. Intranet sites or restricted access areas are examples).

Broken links can be problematic for website visitors, making them unable to access the desired resource or information. These users may decide to make use of another site to find the necessary information elsewhere. A site that hasn't been updated or checked for a long time may suffer from link rot, which describes a site with many broken links.

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