Informal terms for the ranking value a link may contribute. The value is not directly measurable by publishers.
Link equity is informal SEO language for the ranking value a link may contribute. It is sometimes called link juice, but neither expression describes a balance you can directly inspect or spend. The underlying idea is that relationships among pages can matter; the informal label should not be mistaken for a precisely measured resource.
Google describes link-analysis systems, including PageRank, as part of its ranking processes. It does not follow that a publisher can calculate the exact search value of a particular link from a third-party score. The destination, surrounding context and search engine’s processing are not fully captured by a simple promise that one link transfers a fixed quantity.
The term is most useful when it prompts sensible attention to page relationships and working destinations. For example, an established resource should not suddenly send readers to a broken address after a redesign. It becomes less useful when it is used to justify awkward navigation, artificial placements or claims that a link alone can guarantee an outcome.
Takeaway: Treat link equity as a conceptual shorthand, not an invoiceable amount of ranking power. Preserve useful references and clear navigation without sacrificing the reader’s experience to an imagined score.
Example
A trade association links to a supplier’s maintenance checklist. During a redesign, the supplier keeps that checklist accessible at an appropriate destination and updates its own links. It can verify the working route and useful content, but cannot truthfully claim that a known number of ranking points was preserved.
What to check
Ask for concrete evidence behind a link-equity recommendation: which URLs, which links and which user journey are affected? Distinguish an observed broken link from a speculative numerical loss. Avoid broad redirect or navigation changes made solely to chase an unmeasurable total.
For more detail, see Google ranking systems guide.