Google PageRank: What is it?

The PageRank algorithm, a brainchild of Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, is still a pillar of search engine optimization.

PageRank’s roots trace back to the inception of Google, marking a revolutionary departure from conventional search algorithms. The algorithm’s introduction heralded a new era in information retrieval, fundamentally altering how search engines ranked and presented results.

PageRank (PR) is an algorithm used by Google Search to rank web pages in their search engine results. It is named after both the term “web page” and co-founder Larry Page. PageRank is a way of measuring the importance of website pages.

Its revolutionary impact on search engines was matched by the intricacies involved in its calculation process.

Over time, Google faced the need to recalibrate and refine PageRank to maintain its effectiveness amid the evolving digital landscape.

PageRank works by counting the number and quality of links to a page to determine a rough estimate of how important the website is. The underlying assumption is that more important websites are likely to receive more links from other websites.

PageRank, once a visible metric guiding SEO strategies, gradually retreated from public view.