PageRank
PageRank is Google's original algorithm for measuring a page's importance based on the quantity and quality of links pointing to it. It remains a core (though non-public) ranking signal.
Reviewed by Alexander Yarovenko · Updated: 2026-09-22
What is PageRank?
PageRank is an algorithm developed by Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin at Stanford. It assigns a numeric value to each page based on how many pages link to it and how important those linking pages are — a vote-counting model of authority.
PageRank Today
Google stopped publishing PageRank scores in 2016 (the Google Toolbar PageRank). Internally, PageRank still exists and is one of the most important signals in Google's ranking algorithm. Third-party proxies like Ahrefs DR and Moz DA attempt to approximate it.
Implications for SEO
- Internal linking matters — it distributes PageRank across your site
- Backlinks from authoritative pages pass more value than links from weak pages
- Nofollow links don't pass PageRank
- PageRank dilutes as more outbound links are added to a page
Editorial decision
PageRank models links in Google systems; third-party authority metrics are not PageRank.
Validation
Check crawlable internal graph, relevant citations and manipulative-link risks on representative live pages and record the result.