Don’t break the web!
Almost every one on web used to bookmark URLs, which they need to visit or would love to visit again. Browser supports this feature. However, the terminology differs from browser to browser. Firefox calls it bookmarks whereas IE calls it favorites. Wikipedia defines the purpose of Internet bookmarks as
“Internet bookmarks are stored Web page locations (URLs) that can be retrieved. As a feature of all modern Internet web browsers, their primary purpose is to easily catalog and access web pages that a user has visited and chosen to saveâ€.
I manage my frequently visited pages using bookmark feature too. Recently when I tried visiting a link from bookmark section, it threw 404 error.
Duh! Who is responsible? Was it me, for saving the link of the webpage or the web developer who reorganized the website and moved pages?
This problem is known as “Link Rotâ€. Developers reorganize website to give a fresh look or update the contents and leaves out old (broken) link on web.
Well, users always welcome fresh look and/or updated contents but at the same time, they hate broken links. 404 error from a bookmark can irritate any user. Please, Don’t break any of your old links at first place. If you need to, at least set up redirection for old links. Easy!
Tags: HTTP, Programming, Web
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Yeah. Everyone hates a broken link. It just gives you the eerie feeling that the Internet is closing down on you, as if to say you’re not needed here anymore.
Although I do understand setting up links is easy, again, multiple linking and redirection is also confusing and messy to set up.