PageRank
PageRank is Google's original 1998 algorithm that calculates a page's authority by analysing the quantity and quality of inbound links.
PageRank is the algorithm Larry Page and Sergey Brin founded Google on: treat links as votes, where a link from an authoritative page counts more than from an unknown one. Public Toolbar PageRank has been dead since 2016, but internal PageRank lives on as the foundation of every modern Google update. Third-party proxies like Domain Rating (Ahrefs) and Domain Authority (Moz) mimic the concept.
Example
A link from Wikipedia (high PageRank) passes far more link juice than 100 links from empty forum profiles. Google's modern algorithms also weigh topical relevance and link position.
Frequently asked questions
Is PageRank still relevant?
Internally very much. Google confirmed in 2023/2024 that PageRank variants still form a backbone. Public PR scores don't exist; use DR/DA as proxies.
How do I raise PageRank?
Earn quality backlinks (digital PR, content, link-worthy assets), distribute internal links smartly (hub pages, pillar-topic clusters) and keep disavow files clean.
Related terms
Further reading
- → Our service: SEO