Extension:BrokenRedirects

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  1. Extension:BrokenRedirects

Extension:BrokenRedirects is a MediaWiki extension designed to help wiki administrators identify and manage broken redirects – redirects that point to non-existent pages. These broken redirects can clutter a wiki, create a poor user experience, and potentially impact SEO. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding, installing, configuring, and using the BrokenRedirects extension, suitable for beginners with basic wiki administration knowledge.

What are Broken Redirects and Why are They a Problem?

Redirects in a wiki are crucial for maintaining a consistent URL structure, especially during page moves or renaming. They ensure that users who access older URLs are automatically directed to the correct, current page. However, redirects become *broken* when the page they point to is deleted, moved again without updating the redirect, or never existed in the first place (a mistake during redirect creation).

The problems caused by broken redirects include:

  • Poor User Experience: Users clicking on a broken redirect will encounter an error page (typically a "Page does not exist" message), frustrating their experience and potentially leading them to leave the wiki.
  • SEO Issues: Search engines treat broken links negatively. A large number of broken redirects can lower a wiki's search engine ranking, reducing its visibility. Understanding SEO is vital for maintaining a successful wiki.
  • Wiki Clutter: Broken redirects add unnecessary entries to the wiki’s database, potentially slowing down performance over time, especially on large wikis.
  • Maintenance Overhead: Identifying and fixing broken redirects manually is time-consuming, particularly in large wikis with frequent content changes. Regular Wiki maintenance is crucial.
  • Information Architecture Degradation: Broken redirects can indicate underlying problems with the wiki’s information architecture and navigation. Good Information architecture improves usability.

Features of the BrokenRedirects Extension

The BrokenRedirects extension provides the following key features:

  • Automated Detection: It automatically scans the wiki for broken redirects and lists them in a dedicated report.
  • Reporting: Provides a clear and concise report of broken redirects, including the source redirect page and the target (broken) page.
  • Bulk Fixes: Allows administrators to delete multiple broken redirects at once, streamlining the cleanup process.
  • Configuration Options: Offers customizable settings to control the scan frequency, report display, and other aspects of the extension’s behavior.
  • Integration with Existing Tools: Works seamlessly with other MediaWiki extensions and tools.
  • User Permissions: Allows control over who can view the report and fix broken redirects, typically restricting access to administrators.
  • Logging: Logs the actions performed by the extension, such as scans and fixes, for auditing purposes. Logging is essential for tracking changes.
  • Respects Redirect Categories: The extension correctly identifies redirects within categories.
  • Database Optimization: The extension is designed to be efficient and minimize its impact on the wiki’s database performance.
  • API Support: Provides an API endpoint for programmatic access to broken redirect data.

Installation

Installing the BrokenRedirects extension is a standard MediaWiki extension installation process, generally involving downloading the extension files and adding them to your wiki’s `extensions/` directory.

1. Download the Extension: Download the latest version of the BrokenRedirects extension from the [MediaWiki Extensions website](https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:BrokenRedirects). You can also find it on [GitHub](https://github.com/brianwolf/mediawiki-extensions-BrokenRedirects). 2. Upload to Extensions Directory: Extract the downloaded archive and upload the `BrokenRedirects` directory to your wiki’s `extensions/` directory on your server. Ensure proper File management on your server. 3. Configure `LocalSettings.php` : Add the following line to your `LocalSettings.php` file, typically located in the root directory of your MediaWiki installation:

```php wfLoadExtension( 'BrokenRedirects' ); ```

4. Database Updates (if required): In some cases, the extension may require database updates. After adding the line to `LocalSettings.php`, visit your wiki’s `maintenance/update.php` script through your web browser (e.g., `http://yourwiki.com/maintenance/update.php`). Follow the on-screen instructions. 5. Clear Cache: After installation and database updates (if any), clear the MediaWiki cache to ensure the extension is properly loaded. This can be done through the Special:Purge page or by deleting the cache directory on your server. Cache management is vital for performance.

Configuration

The BrokenRedirects extension can be configured through the `LocalSettings.php` file. Here are some important configuration options:

  • `$BR_ReportPage`: Defines the name of the special page where the broken redirect report will be displayed. The default is `Special:BrokenRedirects`.
  • `$BR_ScanInterval`: Sets the frequency of the automated scans. The default is 7 days (in seconds: 604800). Adjust this based on your wiki’s activity level. More frequent scans detect issues sooner, but may impact performance. Consider Performance optimization when setting this.
  • `$BR_AdminGroup`: Specifies the user group(s) that have permission to view the report and fix broken redirects. The default is `sysop`.
  • `$BR_LogCategory`: Sets the category for logs generated by the extension. The default is `Category:BrokenRedirectsLogs`.
  • `$BR_BulkDeleteLimit`: Defines the maximum number of broken redirects that can be deleted in a single bulk operation. The default is 50.

Example configuration in `LocalSettings.php`:

```php wfLoadExtension( 'BrokenRedirects' );

$BR_ReportPage = 'Special:BrokenRedirectReport'; $BR_ScanInterval = 86400; // Scan daily $BR_AdminGroup = 'administrator,bureaucrat'; $BR_LogCategory = 'Category:BrokenRedirectsLogs'; $BR_BulkDeleteLimit = 100; ```

Remember to clear the MediaWiki cache after modifying `LocalSettings.php`.

Using the Extension

1. Accessing the Report: Navigate to the special page defined by `$BR_ReportPage` (default: `Special:BrokenRedirects`). You will need to be a member of the group defined by `$BR_AdminGroup` to access this page. 2. Understanding the Report: The report lists all detected broken redirects. Each entry typically includes: 

   *   The source redirect page title.
   *   The target (broken) page title.
   *   A link to the source redirect page.
   *   A delete button (if you have the necessary permissions).

3. Deleting Broken Redirects: 

   *   Individual Deletion: Click the "delete" button next to each broken redirect to delete it individually.
   *   Bulk Deletion: Select multiple broken redirects by checking the checkboxes next to them, and then click the "Delete selected" button.  Be careful when using bulk deletion, as it can be irreversible.  Always double-check before deleting.

4. Scheduling Scans: The extension automatically scans for broken redirects based on the `$BR_ScanInterval` setting. You can also manually trigger a scan by accessing a special page (typically `Special:BrokenRedirectsScan`), although this page might not be directly accessible to all users. 5. Viewing Logs: The extension logs all actions (scans, deletions) to a category defined by `$BR_LogCategory`. Review these logs to track changes and troubleshoot issues. Audit trails are important for security.

Troubleshooting

  • Report is Empty: If the report is empty, ensure that the extension is properly installed and configured, and that the scan interval has passed. Manually trigger a scan to see if any broken redirects are detected.
  • Permissions Issues: If you cannot access the report or delete broken redirects, verify that you are a member of the group defined by `$BR_AdminGroup`.
  • Performance Issues: If the scan process is causing performance issues, increase the `$BR_ScanInterval` or reduce the `$BR_BulkDeleteLimit`. Consider using a dedicated database server for large wikis.
  • Database Errors: If you encounter database errors, check your MediaWiki error logs for more information. Ensure your database server is running and accessible. Database administration is a key skill.
  • Extension Conflicts: Conflicts with other extensions are rare, but possible. Try disabling other extensions temporarily to see if the issue is resolved. Conflict resolution is important in complex systems.

Advanced Usage and Considerations

  • API Integration: The extension provides an API endpoint that allows developers to access broken redirect data programmatically. This can be used to integrate the extension with other tools or create custom reports. Understanding the MediaWiki API is crucial.
  • Cron Jobs: For more reliable scheduling, consider using a cron job to trigger the scan process.
  • Monitoring: Regularly monitor the broken redirect report to identify and fix issues proactively.
  • Redirect Best Practices: Implement best practices for creating and managing redirects to minimize the risk of broken redirects. This includes using consistent naming conventions, updating redirects when pages are moved, and avoiding unnecessary redirects. Consider Content strategy when planning redirects.
  • Database Maintenance: Regularly perform database maintenance tasks, such as optimizing tables, to ensure optimal performance.
  • Regular Backups: Always maintain regular backups of your wiki’s database and files to protect against data loss. Data backup and recovery are essential.
  • Understanding HTTP Status Codes: Familiarize yourself with HTTP status codes, particularly 301 (Permanent Redirect) and 404 (Not Found), to better understand how redirects work and how broken redirects impact SEO. HTTP protocol knowledge is beneficial.
  • Analyzing Redirect Chains: Long redirect chains can also negatively impact performance. While BrokenRedirects doesn’t directly address this, consider tools to analyze and optimize redirect chains.
  • Monitoring Website Authority: Tools like [Moz](https://moz.com/), [Ahrefs](https://ahrefs.com/), and [SEMrush](https://www.semrush.com/) can help monitor your wiki’s website authority and identify potential SEO issues related to broken redirects.
  • Utilizing Google Search Console: If your wiki is indexed by Google, use [Google Search Console](https://search.google.com/search-console/) to identify crawl errors and broken links, including broken redirects.
  • PageRank Analysis: Understanding PageRank can help prioritize the fixing of broken redirects on important pages.
  • Technical SEO Audit: A comprehensive Technical SEO audit can reveal other issues that might be contributing to poor performance.
  • Content Decay Analysis: Monitor for Content decay which can lead to broken links and redirects.
  • Link Building Strategies: Employ effective Link building strategies to ensure relevant external links point to active pages.
  • Competitive Analysis: Perform Competitive analysis to identify redirect strategies used by successful wikis in your niche.
  • Keyword Research: Conduct thorough Keyword research to optimize redirect targets for search visibility.
  • User Behavior Analysis: Analyze User behavior to understand how users interact with redirects and identify potential usability issues.
  • Conversion Rate Optimization: Optimize redirects to improve Conversion rates if your wiki has specific goals.
  • A/B Testing: Use A/B testing to compare the performance of different redirect strategies.
  • Mobile-First Indexing: Consider the impact of Mobile-first indexing on redirect performance.
  • Core Web Vitals: Optimize redirects to improve Core Web Vitals metrics.
  • Schema Markup: Implement Schema markup to provide search engines with more information about your redirects.
  • Structured Data Testing Tool: Use the [Google Structured Data Testing Tool](https://search.google.com/test/rich-results) to validate your schema markup.
  • Site Speed Testing: Regularly test your wiki’s Site speed to identify and address performance bottlenecks.
  • Image Optimization: Optimize images to reduce page load times and improve user experience.



Special:BrokenRedirects Special:BrokenRedirectsScan Help:Contents Manual:Configuration Manual:Extension installation Help:Links Help:Redirects Manual:Database administration Help:Search engine optimization

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