The Broken Link Checker (Online Tool) scans a variety of link types on your website to identify and report any that are broken or lead to errors. Here are the types of links that are typically scanned by the tool:

1. Hyperlinks (Anchor Links)

• Description: These are the most common type of links, where clickable text or buttons direct users to other web pages. They may link to other pages on the same website (internal links) or external websites (external links).


• Example: <a href="https://example.com/page">Click here</a>


• Purpose: Broken anchor links (both internal and external) can lead to 404 errors, causing a poor user experience and negatively affecting SEO.

2. Image Links

• Description: Image links are used to embed pictures or graphics on a website. If an image’s source URL is broken or the file is missing, it won't load correctly.


• Example: <img src="https://example.com/image.jpg" alt="Image description">


• Purpose: Broken image links can impact the visual appeal of your site and reduce user engagement. It’s important to ensure all images are loading correctly.

3. CSS and JavaScript File Links

• Description: Websites often link to external CSS (styling) or JavaScript (functionality) files. These files are essential for the website's design and behavior. A broken link to a CSS or JS file can cause layout or interactive issues.


• Example: <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://example.com/styles.css"> or <script src="https://example.com/script.js"></script>


• Purpose: Broken CSS or JS files can cause the website to display incorrectly or certain features to malfunction.

4. Embedded Media Links (Video, Audio, Documents)

• Description: Websites often link to multimedia content, such as videos, audio files, or downloadable documents (e.g., PDFs). These links need to be functional to ensure users can access the media.


• Example: <video src="https://example.com/video.mp4" controls></video> or <a href="https://example.com/file.pdf" download>Download PDF</a>


• Purpose: Broken media links can result in inaccessible videos, audio files, or documents, frustrating users who expect to view or download the content.

5. Redirect Links

• Description: Redirects are used to automatically send users from one URL to another. Common examples include 301 (permanent) and 302 (temporary) redirects. If a redirect is broken, it could lead to an error page or cause a redirect loop.


• Example: A link that redirects from https://example.com/old-page to https://example.com/new-page.


• Purpose: Broken redirects can result in 404 errors or cause navigation issues if the redirection is improperly configured or the target page is unavailable.

6. External Links (Outbound Links to Other Websites)

• Description: These are links from your site to other external websites. If the linked external website has moved or removed the page, the link becomes broken.


• Example: <a href="https://externalwebsite.com/page">External Link</a>


• Purpose: Broken external links can harm SEO and reduce trust in your website. They can also result in frustrating user experiences when external content is no longer available.

7. Anchor Links (In-page Links)

• Description: Anchor links are used to navigate within the same page. They typically point to a specific section or element of a long page, such as a "back to top" button or a table of contents.


• Example: <a href="#section1">Go to Section 1</a> (where #section1 links to a specific section within the page).


• Purpose: Broken anchor links can disrupt page navigation, making it harder for users to access relevant sections, especially on long pages.

Why Scanning for These Link Types is Important

Scanning for all these different types of links ensures that:

• User Experience: Users can easily navigate your website without encountering frustrating errors like 404 pages, missing images, or broken media.


• SEO: Search engines like Google use the quality of your links to assess the health and authority of your site. Broken links can negatively impact your SEO rankings.


• Website Integrity: Maintaining a well-functioning website with no broken links helps copyright your site’s professionalism, credibility, and performance.

By regularly scanning for these various link types, you can ensure that your website is free of broken links and continues to provide a smooth and professional experience for visitors.