A link-analysis system that evaluates the relationships and authority between pages as part of Google’s core ranking processes.
PageRank is a link-analysis system associated with Google’s evaluation of relationships among pages. Google identifies an evolved form of it as part of its core ranking systems. It is not the same thing as counting links, reading a third-party domain score or assigning a business an overall trust grade.
The useful conceptual lesson is that relationships between pages can matter, not merely the presence of certain words on a page. However, PageRank is one part of a much broader set of ranking systems. A link-related signal cannot replace relevance, useful information or the other considerations involved in responding to a particular search.
For site owners, the term is often used more loosely than the evidence supports. A provider may say it will transfer a precise amount of PageRank or claim its own score reveals Google’s internal value. Treat those claims carefully. A tool’s estimate can describe its model without establishing the current values or exact behavior of Google’s implementation.
Takeaway: Understand PageRank as a link-analysis concept, not a public score you can purchase or directly control. Build useful resources and sensible navigation without promising a calculable ranking return from each link.
Example
A manufacturer publishes a detailed compatibility reference that several relevant organizations cite. Those links create relationships among useful pages. The manufacturer can verify the references and visitor paths, but it cannot honestly report that each link transferred a known number of Google ranking points.
What to check
When reviewing an SEO proposal, distinguish official descriptions of ranking systems from third-party metrics and informal language such as link equity. Ask for the actual work, its reader benefit and its policy implications rather than relying on claims about an invisible score.
For more detail, see Google ranking systems guide.