Understanding Link Status Categories and Results
AxelBase presents results in clear, actionable categories. Knowing exactly what each status means helps you focus your energy where it matters most.
Valid (2xx)
The resource exists and is fully accessible. Green lights mean you can move on with confidence.
Broken (4xx)
Client errors, usually 404 (Not Found). These indicate mistyped URLs or deleted content that needs immediate fixing.
Redirected and Timeout Behaviors
Not every non-green status is a failure. Understanding the nuance of 3xx and timeouts prevents unnecessary panic:
- Redirects (3xx): We follow the chain to the final destination. A permanent
301is usually safe, but a302temporary redirect might be worth a look. - Timeouts: This occurs when a server takes too long to respond. It's a "yellow flag"—the link might be fine, but the server is currently under heavy load or slow.
Skipped and Ignored Links
To keep your reports clean, AxelBase distinguishes between what it can't check and what you won't let it check:
Skipped: Links that hit your Ignore Rules (e.g., localhost, internal staging IPs, or specific domains you've blacklisted).
Ignored: Non-HTTP protocols like mailto:, tel:, or data: URIs. These are listed for completeness but aren't pinged over the network.
Pro Tip: Actionable Line Numbers
Every result entry includes the exact line number from your original Markdown. You can jump straight to the source in your editor to make corrections without searching.
With these explanations in mind, the next article covers fine-tuning performance settings for even better results on large documents.