A dofollow link is the default HTML link type that passes PageRank and link equity from one page to another. Search engines follow these links to discover content and distribute ranking authority throughout a site, making them essential for SEO performance and site architecture.
Passes Link Equity Between Pages
Standard HTML links transfer PageRank from the source page to the destination, helping distribute ranking authority throughout your site's architecture and improving visibility for linked pages.
Default Link Behavior in HTML
All links are dofollow by default unless explicitly marked with a rel="nofollow" attribute. This means most links on your site naturally pass SEO value to their destinations.
Critical for Internal Linking Strategy
Strategic use of these links connects your content hierarchy, distributes authority to important pages, and helps search engines understand your site's structure and priority pages.
External Links Build Authority Signals
Dofollow links from authoritative external sites pass valuable ranking signals to your pages. This link equity transfer directly impacts your ability to rank for competitive keywords.
When Nofollow Attributes Are Needed
Use nofollow for sponsored content, user-generated links, or untrusted destinations. Dofollow should be reserved for editorial links you genuinely endorse and want to support.
Technical Implementation Is Straightforward
No special markup is required—standard anchor tags without rel attributes are automatically dofollow. Only add attributes when you specifically need nofollow, sponsored, or UGC designations.
How can I tell if a link is dofollow or nofollow?
Inspect the link's HTML code. Dofollow links have no rel attribute or rel="dofollow" is absent. Nofollow links include rel="nofollow" in their anchor tag.
Do dofollow links guarantee higher rankings?
They pass authority but don't guarantee rankings. Link quality, relevance, and your site's overall authority determine actual ranking impact. Quality matters more than quantity.
Should all internal links be dofollow?
Most internal links should be dofollow to distribute authority effectively. Use nofollow sparingly for login pages, filtered URLs, or low-value pages you don't want indexed.
Are dofollow and followed links the same thing?
Yes, these terms are used interchangeably. Both describe standard links without nofollow attributes that search engines crawl and use to pass PageRank between pages.
Nofollow Link
A hyperlink with a rel='nofollow' attribute signaling search engines not to count it as an editorial endorsement. Google treats nofollow as a hint rather than a directive, potentially still using these links for discovery purposes.
Link Equity
The ranking value or authority passed from one page to another through hyperlinks. Link equity flows through dofollow links and is influenced by the linking page's authority, relevance, and the number of outgoing links.
Backlinks
Links from external websites pointing to your site, serving as votes of confidence in search engine algorithms. The quantity, quality, and relevance of backlinks remain among the strongest ranking factors in organic search.
Related Glossary Terms
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