Archive link note for articles that may change or disappear

An archive link note helps readers recover the version of an article you used when the live page changes, moves, or disappears.

Archive links are most useful for pages that are frequently edited, lightly maintained, region-specific, promotional, or likely to be replaced by a new version. They are also useful when a summary depends on a sentence that could be removed later. The archive note does not replace the live source. It gives readers a second path to inspect the source trail.

A clear archive note includes:

- Live URL.
- Archive URL.
- Access date.
- Archive capture date, if shown.
- Reason the archive matters.

Example: “Archived copy saved because the article is an event page that may be replaced after registration closes.” That reason helps later readers understand why two links appear.

Do not overuse archive links for every stable page. A permanent PDF, statute page, or DOI-backed paper may not need one unless the citation depends on a volatile landing page. Also avoid presenting an archive copy as more authoritative than the publisher. The archive is evidence of a version, not proof that the version is correct.

The practical rule: archive pages when losing the exact wording would make the summary hard to verify.

Archive link note for articles that may change or disappear

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