The “nofollow” attribute is a value that can be added to an HTML link to indicate to search engines that the link should not be used as a signal to pass PageRank or influence search engine ranking. The nofollow attribute was introduced by search engines to help combat spam and prevent the manipulation of search results by artificially increasing the number of links to a website.
When a link is marked as “nofollow,” search engines will not follow the link or pass any PageRank or influence to the linked website. This means that the linked website will not receive any benefit in terms of search engine ranking from the link.
Nofollow links are commonly used in situations where the linking website does not endorse the content of the linked website, such as in comments on blogs, forums, or social media platforms, or in sponsored or paid links. By marking these links as nofollow, search engines are able to better understand the context of the link and prevent these types of links from artificially influencing search results.
It is important to understand that not all links are equal in the eyes of search engines, and that the use of nofollow links can be an important part of a comprehensive link building and SEO strategy. By using a mix of dofollow and nofollow links, you can help ensure that your website’s backlink profile is natural and that your website is not penalized by search engines for engaging in manipulative link building practices.