Broken Link
A broken link (also called a dead link) is a hyperlink that no longer reaches its intended destination because the target page has been deleted, moved, or become inaccessible. Users typically see a 404 error page when clicking one.
A broken link (also called a dead link) is a hyperlink that no longer reaches its intended destination because the target page has been deleted, moved, or become inaccessible. Users typically see a 404 error page when clicking one.
Why It Matters
Broken links hurt both user experience and SEO. Visitors who can't reach the content they expect lose trust in the site and are more likely to leave. For search engines, broken internal links waste crawl budget and cause link equity to be lost instead of flowing to the intended page. Regular broken link auditing is a fundamental part of technical SEO maintenance.
Common Causes
- Page deletion: Removing content without redirecting the old URL
- URL changes: Modifying slugs or directory structure without setting up redirects
- Typos: Incorrectly entering a URL when creating a link
- External site changes: The linked external site deletes or moves the page
- Domain expiration: The linked domain is no longer active
Internal vs. External Broken Links
Internal broken links point to non-existent pages within your own site. They directly impact crawling efficiency and link equity distribution and should be fixed immediately.
External broken links point to dead pages on other domains. They have less direct ranking impact but degrade user experience and content credibility.
How to Find and Fix
Finding: Use tools like Ahrefs Site Audit, Semrush Site Audit, or Google Search Console's crawl error reports to detect broken links across your site.
Fixing:
- URL changed → set up a 301 redirect
- Alternative page exists → update the link to the correct URL
- No replacement available → remove the link entirely
Broken Link Building
Broken links on other sites can become backlink opportunities. Finding external broken links and offering your relevant content as a replacement resource is a win-win link building tactic known as "broken link building."
Sources: