Definition
Tool used to check for broken hyperlinks.
Information
Link checking is one aspect of site management — the regular maintenance necessary to keep a site up-to-date.
A “broken hyperlink” does not correctly point to the intended destination page. The most common scenario involves a hyperlink “breaking” when the destination page is deleted or moved to another location.
Basic link checking involves testing for “404 – File Not Found” responses. Many link checkers also test for slow-loading pages, noting pages that fail to respond within a reasonable time limit.
While link checking tools eliminate a considerable amount of manual work, they do not completely eliminate the need for human review. For example, a page can return a valid response, but the content can change drastically — especially in the case of expired domains and objectionable content.
Tools
SEMrush – extensive link research tools. (free trial & discounts) sponsored
see also: SEO Tools
see also: SEO Tool Discounts
Articles
SEMrush vs. Ahrefs vs. Moz (includes backlink comparison)
MarketingTerms.com (April 20, 2019)
Related Terms
deep linking, link popularity, outbound link, reciprocal links
view all terms in the SEO glossary or all terms in the Digital Marketing glossary
