Usage

This template is used by Wrh2Bot to flag links that are invalid, making them easier to find and update.

Using {{Dead link}} will tag broken links, but by default the template does not generate any visible output. To see links in an article that have been flagged as broken users can enable the ErrorHighligher gadget from Special:Preferences. Articles containing broken links are also added to Category:Articles with dead external links, while articles containing links that were previously flagged as dead that have since come back to life (often indicating domain sniping) are added to Category:Articles with formerly dead external links.

Append this template directly after the link or template, leaving the original link intact.

Common form (with current date)

{{Dead link|March 2024}}

For links that were previously dead that have returned to life

{{Dead link|January 2014|March 2024}}

For links that aren't dead, but a bot thinks they are (doesn't work on all bots)

{{Cbignore}}

Examples

  • [http://www.example.com Example link] {{Dead link|September 2012}}
    Example link [dead link]
  • http://www.example.com {{Dead link|September 2012}}
    http://www.example.com [dead link]
  • http://www.example.com {{Dead link|June 2011|September 2012}}
    http://www.example.com [formerly dead link]

Caveats

  • Leave a space between the template and the link to avoid breaking links (e.g. http://www.example.org/ {{Dead link}}). Add brackets if necessary.
  • Avoid complicated formatting. Nesting inside a template is generally not supported well.
  • Avoid using [ ] { | } < > characters between the end of the external link and {{Dead link}}, as they are often used to format text.

TemplateData

A template to indicate that the preceding URL is dead

Template parameters

ParameterDescriptionTypeStatus
Datedate

The month and year the URL was found to be dead, like "June 2013"

Stringoptional
Datelast-checked

An optional parameter indicating the last time that the bot visited the link; used only for links that were previously flagged as dead that have since returned to life.

Stringoptional