A dofollow link passes authority from one website to another
A dofollow link is a hyperlink that tells search engines to follow it and count it as a vote of confidence for the destination website. When a site links to another site with a dofollow link, search engines like Google treat that link as a signal that the destination is trustworthy and relevant. This matters because search engines use these signals to rank pages in search results.
By default, all links are dofollow unless a website owner specifically marks them otherwise. The difference between a dofollow and a nofollow link comes down to a single HTML attribute — a tiny piece of code that either tells search engines to pass authority or to ignore the link entirely.
The practical effect is straightforward: a dofollow link from a trusted website can improve how a page ranks in search results. A nofollow link does not carry that same weight. Understanding which links are which helps you see why some backlinks matter more than others to your search visibility.
Key Takeaways
- Dofollow links pass search engine authority from one site to another, while nofollow links explicitly tell search engines to ignore them.
- All links are dofollow by default unless a website owner adds the rel="nofollow" attribute to the HTML code.
- A dofollow link from a high-authority website typically helps a page rank better than a dofollow link from a low-authority site.
- Links in comments, user-generated content, and paid sponsorships are often marked nofollow to prevent manipulation of search rankings.
How search engines treat dofollow versus nofollow links
When Google's crawler encounters a dofollow link, it follows the link to the destination page and counts that link as a positive signal about the destination. This signal — often called "link juice" or "link equity" — contributes to how the destination page ranks. A page with many dofollow links from authoritative sources typically ranks higher than a page with few or low-authority links.
A nofollow link, marked with rel="nofollow" in the HTML, tells the crawler to skip that signal. The crawler still follows the link and can discover the page, but it does not treat the link as a ranking vote. From a search engine's perspective, a nofollow link is neutral — it neither helps nor hurts the destination's ranking.
This distinction exists because search engines need a way to prevent spam. Without nofollow, someone could flood a popular website's comments section with links to their own site and artificially boost their rankings. Nofollow gives website owners a tool to link to something without endorsing it for search purposes.
Where you typically see nofollow links
Website owners use nofollow links in specific situations where they want to link to something but not pass authority. The most common places are user comments, forum posts, and community discussions. If a major news site publishes an article and readers leave comments with links, those links are almost always nofollow — the site is not endorsing every link a visitor posts.
Sponsored links and paid advertisements are also marked nofollow. If a company pays another site to link to them, that link should be nofollow to signal that it is a paid relationship, not an organic endorsement. Search engines treat paid links as marketing, not as genuine votes of confidence.
Some sites also use nofollow on internal links — links within their own site — to tell search engines which pages matter most. For example, a site might mark links to privacy policies or login pages as nofollow so search engines focus on ranking the main content instead.
The difference between link authority and link relevance
A dofollow link's value depends on two things: the authority of the source site and the relevance of the link. A dofollow link from a high-authority website in your industry is far more valuable than a dofollow link from a low-authority site in an unrelated field.
Authority comes from how many quality dofollow links a site has received itself. A site with thousands of dofollow links from trusted sources has high authority. A brand-new site with no backlinks has low authority. When a high-authority site links to you with a dofollow link, you inherit some of that authority.
Relevance matters because search engines look at the context. A dofollow link from a gardening blog to your gardening supply store carries more weight than a dofollow link from a random tech blog. Search engines assume that a relevant link is a more genuine endorsement than a random one.
How to check if a link is dofollow or nofollow
You can inspect a link's code by right-clicking on it in your browser and selecting "Inspect" or "Inspect Element." This opens the developer tools and shows you the HTML. Look for the rel="nofollow" attribute. If it is there, the link is nofollow. If it is not there, the link is dofollow.
Browser extensions also show link attributes at a glance. Tools like MozBar, SEOquake, and similar extensions highlight dofollow and nofollow links as you browse, saving you the step of opening the code each time. These tools are free or low-cost and work on most major browsers.
If you are checking your own site's links, your analytics or SEO platform can show you which external links you have created and whether they are marked dofollow or nofollow. This helps you understand what authority you are passing to other sites.
Why some sites use dofollow strategically
Websites that want to build authority in their niche often link to other high-quality sites with dofollow links. This seems counterintuitive — why pass authority to a competitor? — but it signals to search engines that your site is part of a trusted network. Search engines reward sites that link to other authoritative sources because it suggests the linking site is knowledgeable and trustworthy.
Editorial sites like news outlets and blogs typically use dofollow links when they cite sources or reference other content. These links are genuine endorsements, not paid placements, so they remain dofollow. A link from a major publication to your site can significantly boost your search visibility.
The key is that dofollow links should be earned, not bought or manipulated. Search engines penalize sites that buy large numbers of dofollow links or use other tactics to artificially inflate their link profile. A natural mix of dofollow links from relevant, authoritative sources is what search engines reward.
The relationship between dofollow links and your search ranking
Dofollow links are one of many factors search engines use to rank pages. They are important, but not the only thing that matters. Content quality, page speed, mobile-friendliness, and user experience all play a role. A page with many dofollow links but poor content will not rank as well as a page with fewer links but better content.
Search engines also look at the anchor text — the visible words in a link. If a dofollow link uses relevant keywords as its anchor text, it sends a stronger signal about what the destination page is about. A link that says "learn more" is less informative than a link that says "best gardening tools for beginners."
Over time, a site that consistently earns dofollow links from authoritative sources in its industry will build domain authority. This authority makes it easier for all of that site's pages to rank, not just the pages that are directly linked to. This is why building a natural link profile is a long-term strategy, not a quick fix.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change a dofollow link to nofollow on my own site?
Yes. If you link to another site, you control whether that link is dofollow or nofollow. You can add rel="nofollow" to any link in your HTML. Most content management systems like WordPress have a simple checkbox to mark links as nofollow without editing code directly.
Does a nofollow link help my search ranking at all?
Nofollow links do not pass ranking authority, but they can still drive traffic to your site if someone clicks them. They also help search engines discover your pages, even if they do not count as ranking votes. The main benefit of nofollow links is referral traffic, not search visibility.
If I get a lot of dofollow links, am I may provide to rank higher?
No. Dofollow links are one ranking factor among many. A page with many low-quality dofollow links may rank lower than a page with fewer high-quality links. Content quality, relevance, and user experience matter just as much as the links pointing to a page.
Should I ask other sites to link to me with dofollow?
You can mention that dofollow links help, but the best approach is to create content so useful that other sites want to link to it naturally. Asking for links or paying for them often results in nofollow links anyway, since reputable sites mark paid links as nofollow to stay compliant with search engine guidelines.