Template:Dead link

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Use {{dead link}} when you find a dead external link within a paragraph or a reference citation. Doing so will place a note by the URL.

Append this template directly after the link or template, leaving the original link intact. Not doing so will prevent detection from automated tools. This tag should be placed just before the </ref> that contains the dead link. The notice will then appear in the footnote reference (instead of in the body of the text, which is not recommended).

Usage

Common form

{{dead link}}

Optional parameters

url

Provides a history of the linked page via Wayback Machine. Set only if history actually exists, as otherwise it is misleading to users and editors.

date (unused parameter)

Given in month name followed by year for use by the categorization system. Use date=December 2024

Caveats

• Avoid using free links (e.g. http://example.org/{{dead link}}) as software unable handle templates may read an incorrect link, add brackets if necessary.
• Avoid complicated formatting, nesting inside a template in generally not support well.
• Avoid using [ ] { | } < > character between the end of the external link and {{dead link}}, as they are often use to format text