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.

  • An incorrect URL 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 good 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.

404 error, Firewall, Hyperlink, Internet terms, SEO terms, URL, Web design terms, Web page

Sometimes, you may still be able to read the content that was on the page by copying and pasting the link into the Internet Archive.

  • How to create an HTML link on a web page.
  • Why are web page images not showing?
  • How to test and check a web page for errors.
  • Internet help and support.
  • HTML and web design help and support.