What is Dead URL?

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A hyperlink on a website that points to a Web page that has been deleted or moved. Also called an "orphan link or dead URL," it may also be a temporary condition if the Web server is down. Contrast with live link.

 

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A dead URL, also known as a broken URL or a broken link, refers to a hyperlink on a website that no longer functions because the target webpage has been removed, relocated, or renamed. When a user clicks on a dead URL, they typically encounter an error message, such as "404 Not Found," indicating that the requested webpage cannot be found.

Dead URLs can occur for various reasons, including:

1. Page deletion or removal: The webpage linked to may have been deleted or removed from the website.
2. Page relocation: The webpage linked to may have been moved to a different URL without setting up proper redirects.
3. Renaming of the URL: The URL structure may have been changed, resulting in broken links if the old URLs are not redirected to the new ones.
4. Domain expiration or change: If a domain expires or is changed, the URLs associated with the old domain may become dead links.

Dead URLs can negatively impact user experience, as visitors may encounter frustrating error pages instead of the intended content. Additionally, they can harm a website's search engine rankings, as search engines like Google penalize websites with a high number of broken links.

To maintain a healthy website and prevent dead URLs, webmasters should regularly audit their site for broken links and either update or remove them. They can also set up redirects when changing URL structures or moving content to new locations to ensure a seamless user experience and preserve SEO value.

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