What Is PageRank?
Definition
PageRank is a link analysis algorithm developed by Larry Page and Sergey Brin at Stanford University. It assigns a numerical score to each webpage based on the quantity and quality of links pointing to it, forming the foundation of Google's original search ranking system.
How PageRank works
The core idea behind PageRank is elegantly simple: links are votes. When Page A links to Page B, it's casting a vote for Page B's importance. But not all votes are equal — a vote from an important page carries more weight.
This creates a recursive calculation: a page's importance depends on the importance of the pages linking to it, which depends on the importance of the pages linking to them, and so on.
Key principles:
- More links = more votes. Pages with more backlinks tend to have higher PageRank.
- Link quality matters. A link from a page with high PageRank passes more link equity than one from a low-PageRank page.
- PageRank is divided. When a page links to multiple pages, its PageRank is split among all outgoing links. A page with 10 outgoing links passes less per link than one with 2. This principle also applies to nofollow links, which historically didn't pass PageRank at all (though Google now treats them as hints).
- PageRank flows through internal links too. Your site's internal link structure determines how PageRank distributes among your own pages.
What is the core principle behind Google's PageRank algorithm?
Correct! PageRank treats links as votes. Each link is an endorsement, and links from pages that themselves have many endorsements (high PageRank) carry more weight.
PageRank is based on links as votes. A page's score depends on how many pages link to it and how important those linking pages are. Content length and page age aren't direct factors in PageRank.
The rise and fall of public PageRank
From 2000 to 2013, Google displayed a public PageRank score (0-10) in its browser toolbar. This score became the de facto currency of the SEO industry — entire business models were built around it.
However, the public score created problems. People obsessively chased PageRank, buying and selling links to manipulate it. The public score also showed only a simplified snapshot of the much more complex internal calculation.
Google stopped updating the Toolbar PageRank in 2013 and officially removed it in 2016. The internal PageRank algorithm continues to operate — you just can't see the score anymore.
Does PageRank still matter?
Yes. Google has confirmed that PageRank is still used internally as one of many ranking signals. The fundamental principle — that links from authoritative pages pass value — remains at the heart of how Google evaluates pages.
What's changed is that Google now uses hundreds of additional signals alongside PageRank, including content quality, user experience, E-E-A-T, and search intent matching. PageRank alone doesn't determine rankings, but it's still a significant factor.
PageRank vs. modern metrics
Since you can't see PageRank anymore, third-party tools created their own authority metrics:
- Domain Authority (DA) by Moz — predicts ranking potential on a 0-100 scale.
- Domain Rating (DR) by Ahrefs — measures the strength of a site's backlink profile.
- Authority Score by Semrush — combines multiple signals into one metric.
These metrics aren't PageRank, but they attempt to measure similar concepts: how authoritative a page or domain is based on its link profile. You can check your site's DA for free with our domain authority checker.
Can you still check a page's Google PageRank score?
Correct! Google removed public PageRank in 2016. Tools like Moz (DA), Ahrefs (DR), and Semrush (Authority Score) now serve as practical proxies for measuring page and domain authority.
Public PageRank was removed in 2016 and is no longer accessible anywhere. The internal algorithm still runs, but you can't see the score. Third-party tools like Moz, Ahrefs, and Semrush offer alternative authority metrics.
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Start Getting Mentioned For $99/moFrequently asked questions
Does Google still use PageRank?
Yes. Google has confirmed PageRank is still used internally. The public Toolbar PageRank was discontinued in 2016, but the underlying algorithm remains one of many ranking signals.
What happened to the PageRank Toolbar?
The Toolbar PageRank showed a 0-10 score for any page. Google stopped updating it in 2013 and removed it in 2016 because it was being gamed and didn't reflect the complex internal calculations.
How is PageRank different from Domain Authority?
PageRank is Google's actual internal algorithm. Domain Authority is Moz's third-party estimate of ranking potential. DA tries to approximate what PageRank measures, but it's a different calculation from a different company. Ahrefs has Domain Rating as its equivalent.
Can I check a page's PageRank?
Not the actual Google PageRank. Third-party alternatives include Moz's Page Authority, Ahrefs' URL Rating, and Semrush's Authority Score — all estimate page-level authority based on backlink analysis.