What is nofollow vs dofollow?
SEO Definition and Examples
Dofollow (default) lets Google follow a link and pass authority, while nofollow (rel="nofollow") signals the link should not be followed and passes no PageRank.
Full Definition: What is nofollow vs dofollow
A dofollow link (the default link, with no special attribute) lets Google crawlers follow it and passes "link equity" (authority) to the destination page — helping with ranking. A nofollow link (rel="nofollow") was created by Google in 2005 to fight comment spam. Now there is also rel="sponsored" (for paid content) and rel="ugc" (for user-generated content). Google has treated nofollow as a "hint" since 2019, not an absolute directive — it may or may not follow the link.
Why Does Nofollow vs Dofollow Matter for SEO?
A 100% dofollow link profile looks artificial and can be penalized. A natural mix includes both types. Guest posting and editorial PR give dofollow — which is why they are more valuable than directory listings that give nofollow.
Source: Google Search Central — NofollowFrequently Asked Questions about Nofollow vs Dofollow
Related Terms
Backlink
BeginnerA backlink is a hyperlink placed on an external site that points to a page on your site, signalling authority and relevance to Google.
Link Building
IntermediateLink building is the active process of acquiring backlinks from external sites in order to increase your domain's authority and improve your Google ranking.
Anchor Text
IntermediateAnchor text is the clickable text of a hyperlink that tells Google and users what the page the link points to is about.
Domain Authority (DA)
IntermediateDomain Authority is a score from 0 to 100, created by Moz, that estimates how well a domain can rank on Google results pages.
Put Nofollow vs Dofollow into practice
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