Google PageRank (PR) was one of the early algorithms developed by Google’s founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, to measure the quality and importance of web pages. PageRank is a link analysis algorithm that assigns a numerical value, called a PageRank score, to each web page on the internet. The PageRank score is used by Google’s search engine algorithm to rank web pages in search results.
Here’s how PageRank works:
- Google’s algorithm considers each hyperlink on a web page as a vote for another web page.
- The PageRank score of a web page is calculated by analyzing the quantity and quality of the links that point to that web page. The more links a web page has from high-quality websites, the higher its PageRank score will be.
- Google’s algorithm considers both the quantity and quality of the links. For example, a link from a high-quality website like The New York Times would be worth more than a link from a small blog.
- PageRank is a continuous score that ranges from 0 to 10. The higher the PageRank score, the more authoritative and trustworthy Google considers the web page to be.
- PageRank is just one of many factors that Google’s algorithm uses to rank web pages. Other factors include keyword usage, website structure, and user engagement metrics like click-through rate and time on site.
Google stopped publicly updating the PageRank score in 2013, but it’s still used as a key part of Google’s search algorithm. It’s important to note that PageRank is just one part of a complex algorithm that Google uses to rank web pages, and it’s not the only factor that determines search rankings. However, PageRank remains an important concept in the world of SEO and web development, as it emphasizes the importance of high-quality backlinks and content for improving search rankings.