Xenu, or Xenu's Link Sleuth, is a computer program that checks websites for broken hyperlinks."Looking for link validator.", New Straits Times, May 1, 2000. It is written by Tilman Hausherr and is proprietary software available at no charge. The program is named after Xenu, the galactic ruler from Scientology scripture.
Format Link Sleuth runs on Microsoft Windows. Link verification is performed on links which appear in <a> tags, as well as images, frames, plug-ins, backgrounds, local image maps, style sheets, scripts, and Java applets. The program follows links to other pages, and checks the links on those pages also, so it is possible to check an entire site for broken links in one session. Xenu displays a continuously updated list of URLs which can be sorted according to different criteria.Gunther, D., Recommendation on Quality Assurance and Selection of resources for the ETB network , European Treasury Browser, P. 48., 2002, retrieved . The program uses a "simple, no-frills user-interface",McCoy, Linda., Link Sleuth , Deccan Herald, August 24, 2005, Retrieved 23 May 2014 and can help users understand how certain Web sites are structured.Mruck, Katja., Qualitative Research Networking: FQS as an Example, Qualitative Social Research, Volume 1, No. 3, December 2000. The program has support for SSL Web sites.Mickiewicz, Matt., Download of the Week , SitePoint Tribune, Issue 279., SitePoint, February 5, 2004.
Reception Xenu's Link Sleuth software was called the "fastest link-checking software" by PC Magazine,"70 assists for a winning site. (Web Builder's Toolkit)", PC Magazine, April 23, 2002. and "amazingly fast and very accurate" by a University of Wyoming newsletter.Visual Communications eNews, University of Wyoming, June 2005., retrieved . The software was used as a testing tool in a usability study at Grand Valley State University.Grissom, Scott., The Trials and Tribulations of Usability Testing, Grand Valley State University, October 8, 2003.
Xenu's Link Sleuth has also been cited by Rossett's The ASTD E-Learning Handbook, Zhong's Intelligent Technologies for Information Analysis, Gerrard's Risk-Based E-Business Testing, Reynolds' The Complete E-Commerce Book, Slocombe's Max Hits: Websites that Work, George's The ABC of SEO, as well as the German books , and , and Italian books, , and .
References
External links
Xenu's Link Sleuth, Project home page