So you've finally created your own Web page, including band photos, music files, and links to your favorite sites. However, the fun has just begun: now you have to maintain your site and keep the links current. As a Web surfer yourself, you know how frustrating bad links are. But how can you keep your site neat and tidy without clicking on every link?

The answer is HTML validators, nifty applications that check Web pages automatically. A good online source of validators is the Help4web site (www.help4web.net/links/HTML_ Validator.html). This page provides links to dozens of sites offering freeware and shareware validator programs, as well as validation services that can locate broken links, clock a page's load time, test your site for browser compatibility, validate HTML tags, remove syntax errors, check for search-engine readiness, and even check your spelling.

Validators not only help you keep your site up-to-date, but also give you feedback that you can use to build better pages. Interested in learning how your site will be viewed by a Lynx browser (www.delorie.com/web/lynxview.html)? Want to make sure it's accessible to people with disabilities (www.cast.org/bobby)? With the tools listed on the Help4web site, you can perform these and many other tasks to ensure that your Web page continues to be a reliable vehicle for your ideas and music.

When you check out the Help4web validator page, visit its home page, too. There you'll find even more Web-related resources.