URL: /rules/links/external-links

---
title: "External Links"
description: "Reports on external link count"
---

Reports on external link count

| | |
|---|---|
| **Rule ID** | `links/external-links` |
| **Category** | [Links](/rules/links) |
| **Scope** | Per-page |
| **Severity** | info |
| **Weight** | 2/10 |

## Solution

External links provide additional resources for users and signal content relevance to search engines. They're normal and healthy for most content pages. This check is informational—external links aren't inherently problematic. Ensure external links go to reputable sources and open in new tabs when appropriate. Use rel="nofollow" for untrusted or paid links. Avoid excessive external links that distract from your content.

## Enable / Disable

### Disable this rule

```toml squirrel.toml
[rules]
disable = ["links/external-links"]
```

### Disable all Links rules

```toml squirrel.toml
[rules]
disable = ["links/*"]
```

### Enable only this rule

```toml squirrel.toml
[rules]
enable = ["links/external-links"]
disable = ["*"]
```