An SEO checker detects broken links by systematically scanning your website and testing each hyperlink to ensure it leads to a valid destination. Broken links, also known as dead links, occur when a URL no longer exists, returns an error, or points to a page that cannot be accessed. Identifying and fixing these links is crucial for maintaining a healthy website and improving on-page SEO checker.
The process starts with the SEO checker crawling your website, following all internal and external links. It checks every hyperlink in menus, content, buttons, footers, and other sections, simulating how both users and search engine bots navigate the site.
Once the links are discovered, the tool examines the HTTP response codes for each URL. A response code of 200 means the page is accessible, while 301 or 302 indicates a redirect. Codes like 404 indicate the page is missing, and 500 signals a server error. By analyzing these responses, the SEO checker can pinpoint which links are broken or redirect incorrectly.
SEO checkers often separate internal links from external links. Internal links, which connect pages within your website, are critical to user experience and SEO crawlability. External links lead to other domains and are flagged if they are broken, giving you the option to remove or replace them with functional sources.
After the scan, the tool generates a report detailing all broken links. This report usually includes the page containing the broken link, the anchor text, the target URL, and the type of error detected. Many SEO checkers also allow filtering by severity, page importance, or traffic to help prioritize fixes.
Some tools go a step further by providing recommendations on how to resolve broken links. Suggestions may include updating the link to a valid page, removing the link if it is no longer relevant, or creating a redirect to a relevant page on your website.
Regularly auditing your website for broken links using an SEO checker helps maintain a smooth user experience, ensures search engines can crawl your pages efficiently, and protects your site from losing SEO value due to dead links.
