Broken Link Checker
Check HTML links and HTTP errors in a sample of internal destinations.
Should I delete an external link that returns 403?
Begin with links needed to complete a task. Booking, instructions or a contact form. Check their content as well as status because a 200 response can still lead to the wrong page.
What to do step by step
- Separate internal, external, anchor and contact links.
- Check important destinations and their labels.
- Find an appropriate replacement for broken content.
- Link directly to the final URL where possible.
- Read external sources to confirm that they support the claim.
How to give a link a descriptive name
Teaching example; example.com addresses are illustrative.
Before
<a href="/repairs"><span class="arrow"></span></a>After
<a href="/repairs">Bicycle repair services</a>The link-name check flags the unnamed link. The revised text describes its destination. Verify the target response separately. This example fixes the name, not the destination’s availability.
A common mistake
A small sample does not prove that every destination works. A server may reject automated requests, requiring manual verification rather than immediate link removal.
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How to check page links, fragments and files
A web URL, page fragment, email link and PDF need different checks. A bulk HTTP test cannot establish whether a “Contact” link reaches an existing form.
- For a fragment, verify the matching id in the current document.
- For mailto and tel links, check the actual contact details.
- For a file, check both access and the document the reader receives.
Why a 200 response does not prove a link is useful
A manual can redirect to the manufacturer’s homepage. The server may return 200, but the reader has still lost the promised instructions.
- Read the final destination of important links.
- Check for a login screen or error template replacing the expected content.
- Choose a replacement by meaning, not merely by matching the domain.
How to write descriptive link text
“Download the installation manual (PDF)” explains more than “Click here”. For an image link, also inspect its accessible name.
- Describe the destination in the link text itself.
- Identify a PDF or other file when that changes the visitor’s expectation.
- Fix icon links without a name; accessibility requires an understandable destination.
How to verify repaired links and rejected requests
When your article moves, update internal links to its final URL. Keep the redirect for old bookmarks and external links you cannot edit.
- After the fix, follow the link from its original page to the right content.
- Manually investigate an automated 403 before removing a useful source.
- Record which destinations were tested; an unchecked link is not a confirmed pass.
How to verify the result
Review Fukamo’s link inventory and the destinations actually tested in Links and server. Check important fragments in the page and manually investigate rejected automated requests before declaring a link broken.
Primary documentation developers.google.com ↗
Frequently asked questions
Should I delete an external link that returns 403?
Not without verification. A server may reject an automated client while serving visitors normally. Open the destination in a browser and assess its relevance and redirects. A confirmed 404 differs from bot blocking. Prioritize links that prevent visitors from completing important tasks.
When the task is complete
The corrected link reaches the intended content and has descriptive text. If access cannot be established reliably, retain a review status and its reason rather than inventing a pass.
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