PageRank is a foundational algorithm originally developed to rank web pages in search engine results. It operates on the principle that the significance of a webpage can be determined by the quantity and quality of inbound links it receives. Essentially, each link to a page is viewed as a vote of confidence, suggesting the page is important and relevant. However, not all votes are equal; links from authoritative and trustworthy sites have a greater impact on PageRank.
In its early days, PageRank was a key component of organizing search results, but it is now one of many factors used to assess a page’s relevance and authority. This diversification of ranking algorithms aims to provide a more nuanced search experience and to mitigate potential manipulations of the ranking system.