Broken Link Tags: Is it Automated?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the issue of moderators editing posts to mark links as broken, even if the link is valid. This process is automated and can sometimes cause problems, particularly with links to journal articles that require a subscription. The suggestion is made to disable this feature, with a request to fix any other affected instances. The conversation also mentions the DOI system used for permanent links to scientific literature and how it may not always be affected by this process.
  • #1
Ygggdrasil
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I noticed in a lot of my old posts, moderators have edited the post mark links by a [broken] tag even if the link is perfectly valid (for example see https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...67-are-replication-error.908823/#post-5724675). Most of the cases seem to be links to journal articles in which a subscription is required to read the article (the link should still take you to the site). Is this a process that is automated? It does not seem consistent with PF's guidelines to cite the primary scientific literature if you're disabling links to journals.
 
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  • #2
Indeed automated. There are some problems when the process receives a response that is not standard. I can fix all nature.com links quickly. Let me know if you find any more instances.
 
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Likes Greg Bernhardt

1. What are broken link tags?

Broken link tags are HTML tags that are used to indicate when a link on a webpage is no longer functional or leads to an error page. These tags help users and search engines identify broken links on a webpage.

2. How do broken link tags work?

Broken link tags work by adding a special attribute called "rel" to the HTML anchor tag, which indicates to the browser that the link is broken. This attribute is usually set to "nofollow" or "noreferrer" to prevent search engines from following the broken link.

3. Is the use of broken link tags automated?

No, the use of broken link tags is not automated. It is the responsibility of the website owner or developer to manually add these tags to their HTML code to indicate broken links. However, there are tools available that can help identify broken links on a webpage.

4. How do broken link tags benefit a website?

Broken link tags can benefit a website in several ways. They can help improve user experience by alerting users of broken links and preventing them from clicking on non-functional links. They can also help maintain the website's credibility and avoid negative impact on search engine rankings.

5. Can broken link tags be used for internal and external links?

Yes, broken link tags can be used for both internal and external links. They can be added to any HTML anchor tag, regardless of whether the link is within the same website or leads to an external website. It is important to regularly check and update broken link tags for both internal and external links to ensure a smooth user experience.

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