If you’ve ever clicked a link and landed on a page that says “404 – Page Not Found”, you’ve already experienced one of the most common website issues.
But here’s where many people get confused:

Are broken links and 404 errors the same thing?

The short answer: No.

They are closely related, but they are not the same, and understanding the difference is important for SEO, user experience, and website health.

Let’s break it down clearly.

What Is a Broken Link?

A broken link is any hyperlink that does not lead to its intended destination.

This can happen when:

• A page has been deleted
  
  

• The URL structure was changed
  
  

• The domain name expired
  
  

• There is a typo in the link
  
  

• The linked page was moved without a redirect
  
  

Broken links can be:

• Internal (links within your own website)
  
  

• External (links pointing to another website)
  
  

From a user’s point of view, a broken link feels like:

“I clicked something… and it didn’t work.”

What Is a 404 Error?

A 404 error is a server response code that means

“The page you’re looking for does not exist.”

In simple terms:

• The browser successfully connects to the server
  
  

• But the server cannot find the requested page
  
  

So when a broken link points to a missing page, the server responds with a 404 error.

The Real Difference: Broken Links vs 404 Errors

Here’s the simplest way to understand it:

Broken link = cause
404 error = result

Not every broken link shows a 404 (it could show 403, 500, or timeout), but many broken links lead to 404 errors.

Why Broken Links and 404 Errors Matter for SEO

Search engines like Google care deeply about user experience.

When your site has too many broken links or unresolved 404 pages:

• Crawlers waste crawl budget
  
  

• Important pages may not get indexed
  
  

• Internal link flow gets disrupted
  
  

• Rankings and trust can drop over time
  
  

While Google doesn’t penalize a site for a few 404 pages, ignoring them at scale can hurt overall site quality.

How Broken Links Affect User Experience

From a visitor’s perspective:

• Broken links feel unprofessional
  
  

• Users lose trust in the brand
  
  

• Navigation becomes frustrating
  
  

• Bounce rates increase
  
  

Imagine a user clicking “Contact Us” or “Buy Now” and seeing a 404 page; that’s a lost lead or sale.

Common Reasons Broken Links and 404 Errors Occur

• Website redesign without redirects
  
  

• Changing URLs for SEO without planning
  
  

• Deleting old blog posts or product pages
  
  

• Copy-paste errors in content
  
  

• External websites removing pages you linked to
  
  

These issues often happen silently unless monitored regularly.

How to Find Broken Links and 404 Errors

Some of the most effective ways include:

• Google Search Console (Coverage & Pages report)
  
  

• SEO tools like Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, or SEMrush
  
  

• Website crawlers
  
  

• Manual testing of key pages
  
  

Regular monitoring is a key part of technical SEO maintenance.

How to Fix Broken Links and 404 Errors (The Right Way)

1. Use 301 Redirects

If a page was moved or replaced, redirect the old URL to the most relevant new page.

2. Update or Remove Broken Links

Fix incorrect URLs or remove links that no longer make sense.

3. Restore Important Pages

If a high-traffic page was deleted by mistake, recreating it may be the best solution.

4. Create a Smart 404 Page

A custom 404 page should:

• Guide users back to main pages
  
  

• Include search or navigation links
  
  

• Match your brand tone
  
  

This reduces bounce rate and improves user experience.

Are 404 Errors Always Bad?

Not always.

A clean 404 is better than:

• Redirecting everything to the homepage
  
  

• Showing irrelevant content
  
  

• Creating “soft 404s”
  
  

The key is intentional management, not ignoring them.

Broken Links, 404 Errors, and Ongoing SEO Health

Think of broken links and 404 errors like cracks in a building:

• One or two won’t collapse it
  
  

• But ignoring them over time weakens the structure
  
  

That’s why professional SEO includes:

• Regular site audits
  
  

• Link monitoring
  
  

• Technical fixes
  
  

• Ongoing optimization
  
  
  

Final Thoughts

Broken links and 404 errors may sound technical, but they directly impact:

• User trust
  
  

• Website credibility
  
  

• Search engine performance
  
  

Understanding the difference helps you fix the right problem the right way, instead of applying temporary or harmful solutions.

A well-maintained website isn’t just about design or content; it’s about smooth, error-free experiences.

Struggling with broken links or 404 errors on your website?

Let Ztrategize audit, fix, and optimize your site to ensure better SEO performance and a smooth user experience.