Links are one of the most important parts of a website.
They help visitors move between pages, connect related content, access useful resources, and discover new information.
But websites change over time. Pages get deleted, URLs change, domains expire, and external websites move their content.
This can leave you with broken links.
What Is a Broken Link?
A broken link is a hyperlink that does not successfully reach its intended destination.
One common example is a 404 Not Found response.
Other HTTP errors can also indicate that a destination is unavailable or experiencing a problem.
Broken links are not always permanent. A temporary server problem can sometimes produce a failed request even though the destination works later.
Why Should You Check Broken Links?
Broken links can cause several practical problems.
A visitor may click an important link and reach an error page instead of the information they expected.
Broken links can also make website maintenance harder because they show that some URLs need attention.
Regular link checking can help you:
- Find missing pages
- Detect outdated URLs
- Review redirects
- Fix navigation problems
- Maintain old blog posts
- Review external references
- Support technical SEO work
How to Find Broken Links
The easiest way to start is to scan important pages.
The WaooTools Broken Links Checker allows you to enter a webpage URL and review links found on that page.
The tool can identify working links, error responses, redirected URLs, and unavailable destinations based on what it can access.
Step 1: Check Important Pages First
Start with pages that receive the most visitors or have the most business value.
For example:
- Homepage
- Service pages
- Product pages
- Important landing pages
- Popular blog posts
- Contact pages
- Category pages
There is little benefit in spending hours fixing minor pages while an important sales page contains broken links.
Step 2: Separate Internal and External Links
Not all broken links have the same source.
An internal link points to another page on your own website.
An external link points to another domain.
The WaooTools Internal Links Checker can help you review links pointing to pages within the same website.
The WaooTools External Links Checker can help identify links pointing to other domains.
This separation makes troubleshooting easier.
Step 3: Understand Common HTTP Errors
Some common responses include:
404 Not Found
The requested page cannot be found.
This often happens when a page has been deleted or the URL has changed.
410 Gone
The resource has been intentionally removed and is no longer available.
5xx Errors
These generally indicate a server-side problem.
A temporary server problem should not automatically be treated as a permanently broken link.
Step 4: Decide What to Do With the Link
Once you find a broken link, you need to choose the appropriate solution.
Replace the URL
If the content moved to a new URL, replace the old link with the new one.
Remove the Link
If the destination no longer exists and there is no useful replacement, remove the link.
Redirect the Old Page
If you control the old URL and the content has moved, a proper redirect may be appropriate.
Google's documentation on site moves explains the importance of updating internal links and handling redirects during URL changes. You can read the Google Search Central documentation on site moves.
Broken Links on Old Blog Posts
Older content deserves special attention.
A blog post may contain references to websites, products, statistics, studies, or tools that have changed since publication.
Review older articles periodically.
If an external source is no longer available, look for a current and reliable source that covers the same subject.
Broken Links After a Website Redesign
Website redesigns are a common source of broken links.
Changing URL structures can leave old links pointing to pages that no longer exist.
Before launching a redesign, create a list of important old URLs.
After launch:
- Crawl the new website.
- Check important old URLs.
- Review redirects.
- Check internal links.
- Look for 404 responses.
- Update important links.
How Often Should You Check Broken Links?
There is no single schedule that works for every website.
A large website with frequent content changes may need more regular checks.
A small website with fewer updates can check less frequently.
It is especially useful to run a link check after:
- Website migrations
- URL structure changes
- Redesigns
- Content removals
- Domain changes
- Major plugin or CMS changes
Final Thoughts
Broken links are a normal part of managing a website, but they should not be ignored.
Start with important pages, separate internal and external links, check the actual HTTP response, and fix the underlying URL problem.
Regular link checks can keep your website easier to navigate and easier to maintain.
