What is Backlink?
Definition
A backlink is a link from one website to another website. In search engine optimization (SEO), backlinks are signals that indicate a website's credibility, relevance, and authority.
Why backlink matters
Backlinks matter because search engines use them to evaluate how trustworthy and valuable a piece of content is. When one website links to another, it acts as a signal that the linked content may be useful or reliable.
Search engines interpret backlinks as endorsements rather than votes. Links from reputable, relevant websites tend to carry more weight than links from low-quality or unrelated sites. As a result, backlinks play a central role in how search engines assess and rank content across the web.
Beyond rankings, backlinks also help search engines discover new pages and understand how different pieces of content relate to each other.
Key concepts and types
- •Inbound backlinks
Links pointing from external websites to your website. - •Outbound links
Links from your website pointing to other websites. - •Internal links
Links that connect pages within the same website. - •Follow and nofollow links
Attributes that signal whether search engines should consider a link when evaluating authority. - •Authority and relevance
Characteristics that influence how much value a backlink passes to the linked page.
Common misconceptions
- ✕More backlinks are always better than fewer high-quality backlinks
- ✕All backlinks carry the same value
- ✕Backlinks only matter for rankings
- ✕New websites cannot earn valuable backlinks
- ✕Backlinks work independently of content quality
Related terms
FAQs
Are backlinks the same as inbound links?
Yes. The terms 'backlink' and 'inbound link' are often used interchangeably to describe links pointing from one website to another.
Do backlinks affect all pages equally?
No. Backlinks influence individual pages differently depending on relevance, context, and how the page fits into a site's overall structure.
Are backlinks still important for SEO?
Yes. Backlinks remain a foundational signal used by search engines to assess credibility and authority, alongside content quality and user experience.