What Is Link Rot and How Do I Prevent It?

Understanding Link Rot

Link rot is the gradual process where links become broken over time as content is moved, deleted, or websites shut down. It's a natural phenomenon that affects all websites.

Causes of Link Rot

Link rot occurs due to several factors:

• Website restructuring and URL changes
• Content deletion or archiving
• Domain expiration or website shutdowns
• Server migrations and technical issues
• Content management system updates

Prevention Strategies

While you can't prevent all link rot, you can minimize its impact:

• Link to stable, authoritative sources
• Use permanent URLs when available
• Implement regular link audits
• Set up monitoring and alerts
• Create backup content for critical references

Dealing with External Link Rot

For external links, consider:

• Using archive.org for important references
• Finding alternative sources for broken links
• Removing links to completely unavailable content
• Adding context about why links were removed

Long-term Maintenance

Link rot is inevitable, but regular maintenance can keep it manageable. Schedule quarterly reviews of your most important links and maintain a process for updating or removing broken references.