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A hyperlink pointing to a page that no longer exists, typically returning a 404 error. Broken links frustrate users, waste crawl budget, and leak link equity that could benefit your site. They often occur after page deletions, URL changes, or linking to external content that moves. Regular audits using tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs identify broken links so you can fix or redirect them, maintaining both user experience and SEO health.