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Temporal Drift in Wikipedia 'Dead Link' Resolution Rate by Infobox Type
This page measures the median resolution rate of dead links that appear inside specific infobox types on Wikipedia. A dead link is an external URL that returns an error; its resolution is recorded when the same URL later returns a successful status. The median is calculated across all instances of each infobox type in regular Wikipedia dumps, showing how long, on average, such links remain broken before being repaired.
The data are sourced from periodic snapshots of Wikipedia articles, where all URLs embedded in infobox templates are extracted and checked for accessibility. Links flagged as dead are re‑checked in subsequent dumps to see if they have been restored, corrected, or replaced. By aggregating these outcomes per infobox category (e.g., taxonomies, geographic locations, scientific publications), we obtain a temporal drift of resolution rates.
Understanding which infobox contexts maintain their external references best highlights areas of strong editorial oversight and those that may need additional attention. It reveals patterns in how volunteer editors prioritise link upkeep, offering insight into the overall health of Wikipedia’s structured data.