Dead Link Checker
Dead Link Checker is an SEO topic covered in SeoWiki.
Key takeaways
- Dead link checkers crawl URLs and report broken links found on a page, site, or domain.
- Many tools check both internal and external links, not just on-site navigation.
- Common dead-link status codes include 404 (Not Found) and 410 (Gone).
For SEO practitioners, dead links can waste crawl resources, frustrate users, and signal weak site maintenance, so checking them helps protect link equity and page quality. Broken-link audits also help prioritize redirects or content updates before those issues spread across a site.
Example
Dead link checkers crawl URLs and report broken links found on a page, site, or domain.
Quick start
- Define the goal for this topic.
- Check the live SERP format.
- Improve one page that matches the intent.
- Measure in Google Search Console.
Common mistakes
- Treating the topic as a one-time task
- Ignoring search intent
- Copying tactics without checking your SERP
Next step
FAQ
What is a dead link checker?
A dead link checker is a tool that crawls a web page or entire site to find hyperlinks that return error codes such as 404 (Not Found) or 410 (Gone).
Why are dead links bad for SEO?
Dead links waste crawl budget, frustrate users, and signal poor site maintenance, which can reduce search rankings and user trust.
Can a dead link checker find broken images?
Yes, many tools scan image sources, CSS references, and other embedded assets in addition to standard hyperlinks.
What is the difference between a dead link checker and a redirect checker?
A dead link checker focuses on links that return errors, while a redirect checker identifies links that redirect (e.g., 301, 302) and may still function.
Related topics
Sources
- W3C Link Checker — Standards-based checker that scans links, anchors, and referenced objects in a page or site.
- Google Search Central — Best source for Google guidance on crawlability, indexing, and handling site errors.
- Google Search Console Help — Primary Google product documentation for monitoring indexing and crawl issues.
Reviewed by Lucía Marín, Founding editor.