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Web Archiving

Web archiving is not only about collecting and preserving websites in an archive, but it also plays a crucial role in preserving research and supporting open research. By capturing website content in an immutable and time-stamped form, web archiving ensures that valuable research materials are safeguarded for future generations.

One of the key benefits of web archiving in the context of research preservation is its ability to create a reliable and verifiable historical record. Researchers can refer to archived web content to trace the evolution of the research. This historical continuity applies a better understanding of the progression of knowledge and facilitates the replication and validation of research results.​

Another fundamental aspect of web archiving is its adherence to the FAIR principles. By making web content findable through indexing practices, accessible through user-friendly interfaces, interoperable via different systems, and reusable with proper licensing. This facilitates data sharing, integration, and reuse, resulting in more efficient and collaborative research.

Internet Archive Wayback Machine

“The Internet Archive Wayback Machine is a service that allows people to visit archived versions of Websites. Visitors to the Wayback Machine can type in a URL, select a date range, and then begin surfing on an archived version of the Web. Imagine surfing circa 1999 and looking at all the Y2K hype or revisiting an older version of your favorite Website. The Internet Archive Wayback Machine can make all of this possible.”2

Steps to use Internet Archive Wayback Machine

  1. Steps to archive a page on a website
    1. Visit https://web.archive.org/.
    2. Type the URL of the site you want to save into the “Save Page Now” field.
    3. Ensure that you enter the specific address you want, as the Wayback Machine only archives content on one page, not other linked pages.
    4. Click on the grey SAVE PAGE button.
    5. A loading icon will appear until the green “✅Done!” is displayed.
    6. A link will be provided to visit the archived page.
  2. Steps to view archived websites
    1. Visit https://web.archive.org/.
    2. Type the URL of the site you want to view into the field labeld “Enter a URL or words related to a site’s home page”.
    3. Press Enter.
    4. A bar graph and calendar will be displayed.
    5. There are black bars that display how many times the page was archived by Wayback Machine.
    6. In the bar click on the year to view the 12-month calendar showing all the dates in that year.
    7. Green or blue circles will be displayed around the dates that the website archived on.
    8. Hover over the date to see the list of archive times.
    9. Select a time to view the content.

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