Link rot
Link rot is the process by which hyperlinks on the internet gradually become broken or dead as web pages are moved, restructured, or deleted. This phenomenon is a significant issue for the preservation of digital content and the reliability of online resources.
Causes[edit | edit source]
Link rot can occur due to several reasons:
- **Website restructuring**: When websites undergo redesigns or restructuring, the URLs of pages may change, leading to broken links.
- **Content deletion**: Web pages or entire websites may be deleted, resulting in dead links.
- **Domain expiration**: If the domain name registration expires and is not renewed, all links associated with that domain become invalid.
- **Server issues**: Temporary or permanent server issues can render links unusable.
Impact[edit | edit source]
Link rot affects various aspects of the internet:
- **Academic research**: Scholars and researchers rely on stable links for citations. Link rot can undermine the credibility and verifiability of academic work.
- **Legal documents**: Legal references and documents that contain broken links can lead to misinformation or incomplete information.
- **User experience**: Broken links can frustrate users and reduce the usability of websites.
Prevention and Mitigation[edit | edit source]
Several strategies can be employed to prevent or mitigate link rot:
- **Persistent identifiers**: Using persistent identifiers like DOIs (Digital Object Identifiers) can help maintain stable links.
- **Web archiving**: Services like the Wayback Machine archive web pages, allowing users to access historical versions of web content.
- **Regular maintenance**: Website administrators can regularly check and update links to ensure they remain functional.
- **Redirection**: Implementing proper 301 redirects can guide users from old URLs to new ones.
Related Concepts[edit | edit source]
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External Links[edit | edit source]
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