A broken link, also called a dead link, points to an unavailable or invalid target instead of the intended resource. Fixing these links helps visitors trust and navigate your site. section 3.6.2
Check links before publishing:
- Open each link on the frontend of a small site and confirm that it reaches a real page rather than a “Page not found” message. section 3.6.2
- Use Google Search Console or an online broken-link checker for a larger site. section 3.6.2
- Recheck links after changing a theme, because addresses that no longer exist can damage menus and other site features. section 6.0
A practical prelaunch check
Preview the finished menu, click every item, and repair any link that produces a “Page not found” error. On a larger WordPress site, run a link-checking tool as part of the final review. section 3.6.2 section 11.6
