Nofollow Link
A link attribute that tells Google not to pass ranking credit through the link.
rel="nofollow" is an attribute telling search engines not to pass ranking credit through a link. It was designed for untrusted content such as user comments, and Google now treats it as a hint rather than a directive. Paid or sponsored links should use rel="sponsored" and user-generated ones rel="ugc".
Definition
A nofollow link includes the rel="nofollow" attribute, which tells search engines not to pass ranking credit (link equity) through the link. Google introduced nofollow in 2005 to combat comment spam.
Since 2019, Google treats nofollow as a "hint" rather than a directive — they may choose to count it. Related attributes: rel="sponsored" (paid links) and rel="ugc" (user-generated content).
Why It Matters
Understanding dofollow vs nofollow helps prioritize link building efforts. While nofollow links still drive traffic and brand awareness, dofollow links from high-authority sites are what move rankings.
Example
<a href="https://slapmyweb.com" rel="nofollow">Check your website</a>Social media links, Wikipedia, and most comment sections use nofollow.
Related Terms
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