Broken Link Checker

How This Broken Link Checker Works and What Each Error Means

Our Broken Link Checker tool scans the links on a webpage and identifies any issues based on their HTTP status codes. Each status code returned offers insight into how the link behaves and whether it may impact user experience or SEO. Here’s a breakdown of what each status code means and how to interpret the results.

Status Code Explanations

• 302 (Found/Redirected): This status indicates a temporary redirect, meaning the link points to a different URL temporarily. This is common for social media share links and messaging apps like WhatsApp or LinkedIn. While these links aren’t broken, they involve a redirection, which is usually fine for users but may have a minor impact on SEO if redirects are overused.

• 301 (Moved Permanently): This status shows that the link has a permanent redirect, leading to a new URL location. Like 302, this is generally not an issue for users. However, if there are many 301 redirects in a row, they could slow down user experience slightly and affect SEO. For instance, “mailto” links often return this status.

• 403 (Forbidden): This status code means the server is denying access to the request. Certain websites, like Twitter and Reddit, may block automated link checkers, causing them to return a 403 error. However, these links often work correctly when accessed by regular users through a browser.

• 999 (LinkedIn Blocking): LinkedIn frequently returns a 999 status code to block automated requests, even if the link itself works perfectly for human users. This code doesn’t imply a broken link, but rather that LinkedIn is preventing the automated check.

Understanding the Output of Your Link Check

• 302 and 301 Links: These are typically functioning links that redirect to a new location. They are generally safe to use but may benefit from monitoring, especially if there are multiple redirects in a sequence.

• 403 Links: Links showing a 403 status may still be accessible to regular users. Some platforms restrict access to automated tools, so a 403 error here doesn’t always indicate a broken link.

• 999 Status: Links that return a 999 status, particularly LinkedIn links, are likely to work correctly for users. LinkedIn and similar platforms often block automated checks, leading to this status code.

Summary

The broken link checker’s output is based on server responses, and while these status codes are accurate indicators, not all listed links are truly “broken.” Social media links, redirects, and certain restricted-access links (like 403 and 999) may appear as issues without impacting real user experience.