Broken Link Checker

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  1. Broken Link Checker
    1. Introduction

Maintaining a healthy wiki, like any website, requires diligent upkeep. One crucial aspect of this upkeep is ensuring the integrity of its links – both internal links pointing to other pages within the wiki, and external links pointing to resources outside of it. Over time, links inevitably break. Websites change, pages are moved, servers go down, and content becomes unavailable. These broken links degrade the user experience, diminish the wiki's credibility, and can even negatively impact its search engine optimization (SEO). A Broken Link Checker is a tool designed to identify these broken links, allowing administrators and editors to rectify them and maintain a functional and reliable wiki. This article will provide a comprehensive guide to understanding and utilizing broken link checkers within the context of a MediaWiki 1.40 installation, covering installation, configuration, usage, interpretation of results, and best practices.

    1. Why Are Broken Links a Problem?

Before diving into the specifics of broken link checkers, it's vital to understand *why* addressing broken links is important. The consequences extend beyond mere annoyance for users.

  • **User Experience:** Clicking a broken link leads to a frustrating 404 error page, disrupting the user's flow and potentially causing them to abandon the wiki altogether. This negatively impacts engagement and return visits. User Interface considerations are paramount.
  • **Credibility & Trust:** A wiki riddled with broken links appears neglected and unprofessional. This erodes trust in the information presented within it. A well-maintained wiki signals quality and reliability.
  • **SEO Impact:** Search engines like Google consider broken links a negative ranking factor. A high number of broken links can lower a wiki's search engine ranking, making it harder for people to find valuable content. Understanding Search Engine Optimization is crucial for wiki visibility.
  • **Loss of Information:** Broken external links represent a loss of valuable resources that were originally intended to support the wiki's content. This impacts the overall completeness and usefulness of the information.
  • **Accessibility Issues:** Broken links can also pose accessibility problems for users who rely on screen readers or other assistive technologies.
    1. Broken Link Checker Extensions for MediaWiki

MediaWiki doesn't natively include a broken link checker. Functionality is added through extensions. Several extensions are available, each with its strengths and weaknesses. The most popular and generally recommended extension is "BrokenLinks."

      1. BrokenLinks Extension

The BrokenLinks extension is a robust and actively maintained tool specifically designed for MediaWiki. It allows you to:

  • Scan all pages for broken links.
  • Scan specific pages or categories.
  • Generate reports of broken links.
  • Automatically categorize pages with broken links.
  • Ignore specific URLs or link patterns.
  • Schedule regular scans.
        1. Installation

1. **Download:** Download the latest version of the BrokenLinks extension from the MediaWiki Extensions Repository ([1](https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:BrokenLinks)). 2. **Upload:** Upload the extracted extension files (usually a directory named `BrokenLinks`) to your MediaWiki's `extensions/` directory. 3. **Configure:** Add the following line to your `LocalSettings.php` file:

   ```php
   wfLoadExtension( 'BrokenLinks' );
   ```

4. **Update Cache:** Clear your MediaWiki cache. This is often done through the maintenance scripts or via the Special:Cache documentation page Special:Cache.

        1. Configuration

The BrokenLinks extension offers several configuration options. These can be set in your `LocalSettings.php` file. Some of the most important settings include:

  • `$wgBrokenLinksReportDatabaseTable`: The name of the database table used to store the scan results. (default: `brokenlinks_report`)
  • `$wgBrokenLinksIgnorePatterns`: An array of regular expressions to ignore when scanning for broken links. Useful for ignoring links to external tracking services or temporary URLs.
  • `$wgBrokenLinksScanInterval`: The interval (in seconds) between scans. Setting this to a high value (e.g., 86400 for daily scans) is recommended to avoid putting excessive load on the server.
  • `$wgBrokenLinksScanDepth`: The maximum depth to follow links during a scan. A higher depth will find more broken links, but will also take longer.
  • `$wgBrokenLinksUserAgent`: The User-Agent string used when making HTTP requests to check links. It's good practice to set a recognizable User-Agent.
  • `$wgBrokenLinksReportCategory`: The category to automatically assign to pages containing broken links. (default: `Category:Pages_with_broken_links`)

Example configuration snippet in `LocalSettings.php`:

```php wfLoadExtension( 'BrokenLinks' );

$wgBrokenLinksReportDatabaseTable = 'my_brokenlinks_report'; $wgBrokenLinksIgnorePatterns = array(

   '/^https?:\/\/example\.com\/tracking\/?.*$/',
   '/^https?:\/\/temporary\.url\.com\/?.*$/'

); $wgBrokenLinksScanInterval = 86400; // Daily scan $wgBrokenLinksScanDepth = 2; $wgBrokenLinksUserAgent = 'MyWiki/1.0 (BrokenLinks Extension)'; $wgBrokenLinksReportCategory = 'Category:Pages_with_broken_links'; ```

      1. Other Extensions

While BrokenLinks is the most popular, other extensions offer similar functionality:

    1. Using the Broken Links Extension

Once installed and configured, the BrokenLinks extension adds several special pages to your wiki:

  • **Special:BrokenLinks:** This page displays a report of all broken links found on the wiki. You can filter the report by namespace, page title, and link type (internal or external). This is the central hub for managing broken links.
  • **Special:BrokenLinksScan:** This page allows you to manually initiate a scan of the wiki.
  • **Special:BrokenLinksSettings:** (Requires appropriate permissions) This page allows administrators to configure the extension's settings.
      1. Running a Scan

To run a scan, navigate to `Special:BrokenLinksScan`. You can choose to scan:

  • **All Pages:** Scans the entire wiki. This can take a significant amount of time, especially for large wikis.
  • **Specific Pages:** Scans only the pages you specify.
  • **Categories:** Scans all pages within the specified categories.

Click the "Start Scan" button to begin the scan. The scan will run in the background, and you can monitor its progress on the same page.

      1. Interpreting the Report

The `Special:BrokenLinks` page displays the scan results in a table format. Each row represents a broken link. The table columns typically include:

  • **Page:** The page containing the broken link.
  • **Link:** The broken link itself.
  • **Link Type:** Indicates whether the link is internal (to another page within the wiki) or external (to a website outside the wiki).
  • **HTTP Status Code:** The HTTP status code returned when attempting to access the link. Common codes include:
   *   `404 Not Found`: The page no longer exists.
   *   `403 Forbidden`: Access to the page is denied.
   *   `500 Internal Server Error`:  There's a problem with the server hosting the page.
   *   `Timeout`: The request timed out.
  • **Last Checked:** The date and time the link was last checked.
  • **Actions:** Options to mark the link as fixed, ignore it, or view the page containing the link.
    1. Fixing Broken Links

Once you've identified broken links, you need to fix them. The appropriate action depends on the nature of the broken link.

  • **External Links:**
   *   **Verify the URL:** Check if the URL is still correct.  Sometimes, websites change their URL structure.
   *   **Find an Alternative Source:** If the original source is no longer available, try to find an alternative source that provides similar information.
   *   **Archive the Page:** If the page was valuable but is now gone, consider archiving it using services like the Wayback Machine ([4](https://web.archive.org/)).  Then, link to the archived version.
   *   **Remove the Link:** If you can't find an alternative source or archive the page, remove the link entirely.
  • **Internal Links:**
   *   **Correct the Page Title:**  Ensure the page title in the link is spelled correctly and matches the actual page title.  Case sensitivity may be a factor.
   *   **Recreate the Page:** If the linked page has been deleted, consider recreating it if the information is still relevant.
   *   **Update the Link:** If the page has been moved, update the link to point to the new page title.

After fixing a link, mark it as "Fixed" in the `Special:BrokenLinks` report. This will help track your progress and prevent you from repeatedly attempting to fix the same link.

    1. Best Practices for Preventing Broken Links

Prevention is always better than cure. Here are some best practices to minimize the occurrence of broken links:

  • **Regular Scanning:** Schedule regular scans using the BrokenLinks extension to proactively identify and fix broken links. Daily or weekly scans are recommended.
  • **Link Validation:** Before adding an external link to a wiki page, verify that the link is working and points to a reliable source.
  • **Use Stable URLs:** Whenever possible, use permanent or stable URLs (permalinks) for external links. Avoid links that are likely to change.
  • **Archive Important External Resources:** For critical external resources, consider archiving them using the Wayback Machine to ensure they remain accessible even if the original source disappears.
  • **Monitor External Websites:** Keep an eye on the websites you link to. If a website undergoes major changes, check your links to ensure they are still valid.
  • **Use Relative Internal Links:** For internal links, use relative links instead of absolute links. Relative links are less likely to break when the wiki is moved or its URL structure changes. For example, instead of `[[5]]`, use `Page_Name`.
  • **Use Templates for Links:** If you frequently link to the same resources, create templates to store the links. This makes it easier to update the links if they change. Templates are a powerful feature of MediaWiki.
  • **Review Changes Carefully:** When editing wiki pages, carefully review any links you add or modify.
    1. Advanced Considerations & Technical Analysis
    1. Conclusion

Maintaining a wiki free of broken links is an ongoing process, but one that is well worth the effort. By utilizing a broken link checker like the BrokenLinks extension, following best practices, and staying vigilant, you can ensure that your wiki remains a valuable and reliable resource for its users. Regular monitoring and proactive maintenance are key to a successful and sustainable wiki.

Help:Contents MediaWiki Extension LocalSettings.php Special:Cache Templates User Interface Search Engine Optimization Server Administration Caching

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