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Core concept · Generative Search Surfaces

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Definition

PageRank is Google’s original algorithm for measuring the importance of a web page based on the quantity and quality of inbound links pointing to it. Named after Google co-founder Larry Page, it treats each link as a vote of confidence, with votes from authoritative pages weighted more heavily. PageRank remains a foundational concept in understanding why link authority matters — and why it carries partial but imperfect relevance to AI citation. AI systems do not use PageRank directly, but the underlying logic persists: pages that are widely linked by authoritative sources are more likely to appear in training data, to be trusted as sources, and to be retrieved by RAG systems. Link authority and AI citation authority are correlated, though not identical.

Domain Authority

Backlink

Site authority

Source credibility

Training corpus

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