Your free guide to search engine optimization.
Broken links are links that do not resolve to a working URL and do not deliver the intended Web page. Broken links are often the result of a URL change or the relocation of the page content on the website. When clicking on a broken link, the browser receives a 404 status code and the user sees a "404 Not Found" error page. This error message gives no indication of whether the page is broken temporarily or permanently.
A search engine spider receives the same status code when it tries to follow a non-functional URL. Returning a broken link from a search result can disappoint the user and may cause him/her to leave the website for a competitor, especially if the website does not offer a custom 404 error page with navigational information that can take them to a valid page on the site.
Hyperlink maintenance should be a part of website management, and broken links should be removed
as soon as possible.
