PageRank is a concept that originated from Google's early algorithm for ranking web pages. While it's no longer a direct factor in Google's current ranking systems, understanding it helps to appreciate the evolution of search engine algorithms and the importance of link analysis.
What is PageRank?
PageRank is an algorithm used by Google Search to rank web pages in their search engine results. Developed by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1996, it evaluates the importance of a web page based on the number and quality of links pointing to it.
Key Concepts of PageRank
Link as a Vote: PageRank operates on the principle that a link from one page to another acts as a "vote" of confidence in the linked page. The more votes a page receives, and the higher the quality of those votes, the higher its PageRank.
Quality over Quantity: Not all links are equal. Links from high-authority sites (sites with high PageRank) are more valuable than links from low-authority sites. A link from a respected source like a major news outlet or academic institution is more influential than a link from a lesser-known blog.
Distribution of Rank: PageRank is calculated through an iterative process where the rank of a page is distributed among the pages it links to. If Page A links to Page B, Page B receives a portion of Page A's PageRank. The process continues iteratively until the ranks stabilize.
Damping Factor: PageRank includes a damping factor (typically around 0.85) to account for the probability that a user will randomly jump to any page, rather than following links. This ensures that every page gets some baseline PageRank value.
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