PageRank

An algorithm used by Google Search to rank websites in their search engine results.

What is PageRank?

PageRank is an algorithm developed by Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin to measure the importance of web pages based on the number and quality of links pointing to them. Essentially, it assigns a numerical value to each webpage, representing its relative importance in the vast network of the internet. The algorithm works by interpreting a link from one page to another as a vote of confidence, with links from more reputable and relevant sites carrying greater weight. PageRank operates on the principle that pages that receive more links have higher authority and are therefore likely to be more valuable to users. This scoring system allows search engines to rank search results, with higher PageRank pages appearing closer to the top. Over time, as the internet has evolved, search engines have incorporated additional factors to determine rankings, but PageRank remains a foundational concept in the world of search engine optimization.