Broken Link
What is Broken Link?
A Broken Link in the realm of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) refers to a hyperlink on a website that no longer functions as intended due to a destination page’s removal, relocation, or an incorrect URL reference. Broken links can have a negative impact on a website’s user experience and its search engine ranking. They are typically identified by a “404 Error” message when users attempt to access the linked page.
What Broken Link means?
A Broken Link refers to a hyperlink on a website that does not work as intended because the destination page it is supposed to lead to is either missing, has been moved, or the URL reference is incorrect. When users click on a broken link, they typically encounter a “404 Error” message, indicating that the linked page cannot be found.
Example:
Imagine you are browsing a website, and you come across a link that is supposed to take you to a specific article, but when you click on it, you are presented with a “404 Page Not Found” error instead. In this case, the link you clicked on is a broken link because it failed to deliver the expected content.
How does Broken Link work?
A Broken Link typically works as follows:
- Link Creation: Broken links are created when a website owner or content creator inserts a hyperlink (a clickable text or image) into their web page’s content. This hyperlink is intended to direct users to another web page when clicked.
- URL Reference: The hyperlink contains a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) reference, which specifies the web address of the destination page to which the link is supposed to lead.
- User Interaction: When a website visitor clicks on the hyperlink, their web browser attempts to access the specified URL.
Now, how a broken link works or, more accurately, fails to work:
- Destination Unavailability: If the URL referenced in the hyperlink is no longer valid, it can lead to various scenarios, resulting in the link being broken:
a. Page Removal: The destination page may have been deleted or removed from the web server, making it inaccessible.
b. Page Relocation: The destination page may have been moved to a different URL, but the hyperlink still points to the old, incorrect address.
c. Incorrect URL: The URL reference in the hyperlink might contain errors, such as typos, missing characters, or incorrect syntax, rendering it invalid. - 404 Error: When a user clicks on a broken link, their web browser will typically display a “404 Error” message. This error indicates that the requested page cannot be found on the server, and the link is considered broken.
- User Experience Impact: From the user’s perspective, a broken link results in disappointment and frustration, as they were unable to access the intended content.
- SEO Impact: From an SEO perspective, search engines like Google may notice broken links on a website. Accumulating a significant number of broken links can have a negative impact on a website’s search engine ranking, as it is seen as a sign of poor maintenance and a subpar user experience.
Good to know about Broken Link
To prevent broken links and maintain a functional website, website owners should regularly check their links, update them when necessary, and remove or correct any links that no longer lead to the intended destinations. This helps ensure a seamless user experience and positively affects the website’s SEO performance.