linkrot
Dead links accumulating
Linkrot is the gradual decay of hyperlinks on the internet as the pages they point to are moved, deleted, or abandoned.
Over time, links that once worked begin returning error messages.
The phenomenon affects websites, academic citations, and archived content: Half the links in that ten-year-old article suffer from linkrot.
Also spelled as two words.
HTTP error code
- deadlinkNonfunctional web reference
- brokenDamaged beyond function
- unavailableCannot be accessed
- inaccessibleCannot be reached
expired · deterioration · degradation · vanish · disappear · erode · corrupt · malfunction
No longer in use
- abandonedLeft behind completely
- unmaintainedNot kept in repair
- neglectedNot given proper attention
- defunctNo longer existing
deprecated · superseded · legacy · forgotten · stale · lapsed · disuse · relic
404
HTTP error code
- deadlinkNonfunctional web reference
- brokenDamaged beyond function
- unavailableCannot be accessed
inaccessible · expired · deterioration · degradation · vanish · disappear · erode · corrupt · malfunction · disintegrate
outdated
No longer in use
- abandonedLeft behind completely
- unmaintainedNot kept in repair
- neglectedNot given proper attention
defunct · deprecated · superseded · legacy · forgotten · stale · lapsed · disuse · relic · remnant
wayback
The distant past
- archiveStored historical records
- preservationMaintaining something's condition
- snapshotInformal photograph taken quickly
cache · mirror · permalink · persistent · citation · reference · DOI · URL · backup · retrieval