Data from Sept 10, 1999

Based on a new analysis using the first 100 hits from three searches, this table shows the percentage of dead links. The dead links percentage columns includes the 404 file not found error message, 401 access denied and 403 forbidden errors, and various errors due to the inability to connect to the result. These connection errors include No connect, Host not found, and Timed out. The third column shows the percentage of dead links that resulted only from the the 404 file not found error message, 401 access denied, and 403 forbidden errors excluding all the connection errors which could represent only temporarily dead links.

HotBot, Google!, and Lycos fared the worst this time, a significant change since the March 1999 results. However, Google!'s dead links were mostly connection failures. Excite put out the best showing with the fewest dead links while Northern Light's summer efforts to clean up its database showed in its number two ranking.

See also earlier dead link reports which used a different methodology.

• May 1999 Dead Link Report
• March 1999 Dead Link Report
• Jan. 1999 Dead Link Report

While decisions about which Web search engine to use should not be based on size alone, this information is especially important when looking for very specific keywords, phrases, and areas of specialized interest. See also the following statistical analyses:

• Relative Size of the search engines
• Total Size Estimate
• Overlap between the search engines
• Unique Hits hits from each
• Change Over Time