Broken links refer to hyperlinks on a website that no longer work or lead to a valid webpage. These links are typically the result of a webpage being moved, deleted, or renamed without updating the corresponding links. Broken links can negatively impact user experience, as they prevent visitors from accessing the intended content and can also harm a website’s search engine rankings. It is crucial for website owners to regularly check and fix broken links to ensure a smooth browsing experience for users and maintain a healthy SEO performance.