Link rot

A link can stop serving its research purpose through deletion, a changed path, a login barrier, a redirected homepage, or altered content. A page that still loads may no longer contain the evidence you cited. Checking only whether a server responds therefore misses part of the problem. Keep descriptive citation information and, where appropriate, an archived copy or local permitted capture. During review, open the link and verify the relevant passage. If access fails, preserve the original reference and document the replacement or archive route rather than silently rewriting the source history. Archive coverage is incomplete, so an unsuccessful recovery does not prove the material never existed. A careful note can state what was previously observed, what remains available, and which claim can no longer be independently rechecked.

Editorial review: 2026-09-23. New evidence may change this account.

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