ARO · Operational
HTTP Link headers
HTTP Link headers is an Agent Readiness Optimization check in the Discoverability group.
Version agent-readiness-2026-10
What is this benchmark?
HTTP Link headers
HTTP Link headers is an Agent Readiness Optimization check in the Discoverability group.
Why it matters
Link headers point agents at catalogs, cards, and alternate formats.
How SiteGlue evaluates it
HTTP request to a well-known or published URL. Spec: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc8288. Catalog agent-readiness-2026-10.
- Passing criteria
- The published signal for HTTP Link headers is present and readable.
- Failing criteria
- The scan requested the signal and it was missing, blocked, or malformed.
- Not verified
- The check was not selected, the probe did not run, or evidence was inconclusive. Not verified is never scored as 0.
- Not applicable
- Not applicable when the business has no corresponding surface (for example commerce protocols on a site with no cart).
Scoring weight: 1. Evidence: Public HTTP, HTML, or DNS evidence for HTTP Link headers. No private credentials.
Example results
Pass
Agents can read a valid HTTP Link headers signal on the public site.
Fail
HTTP Link headers is missing, blocked, or not machine-readable.
Recommended fixes
- Send these Link headers on the HTML response. Font preloads do not count.
Related benchmarks
Frequently asked questions
Does a missing optional check lower my ARO score?
Yes, if the check is applicable and failed. Not verified items are excluded.
Is this a live ChatGPT test?
No. ARO is a website audit. Optional live walks are Test With AI Agents.
Run the ARO audit.