A broken link in SEO refers to a hyperlink that no longer leads to its intended destination.
This commonly occurs when a webpage is moved or deleted, resulting in a dead-end for users and search engines.
In the SEO context, broken links can harm a website’s usability and its ranking in search engine results, as they disrupt the flow of navigation and indicate poor site maintenance. Here are some signs that indicate a link may be broken on a website:
- HTTP Error Codes: When clicking on a link, if you receive an HTTP error code such as 404 (Not Found), 403 (Forbidden), or 500 (Internal Server Error), it indicates that the link is broken.
- Page Not Found Message: This commonly indicates a broken link. Instead of being directed to the intended content, you’re presented with a “Page Not Found” or similar message.
- Broken Image Icon: If an image fails to load and instead shows a broken image icon (usually a small square with a border and an ‘X’ inside), it suggests that the image link is broken.
