Core backlink terms
- Backlink: an inbound link from another website to yours; a core ranking and trust signal.
- Dofollow link: a link that passes authority (PageRank) to the destination.
- Nofollow link: a link with a rel attribute that generally doesn't pass authority.
- Anchor text: the clickable text of a link; should be natural and varied.
- Domain authority (DA): a third-party score estimating a domain's ranking strength.
Exchange & building terms
- Backlink exchange: two sites agreeing to link to each other (see exchange hub).
- 3-way (ABC) exchange: A→B, B→C, C→A, removing the direct footprint.
- Contextual backlink: an editorial link inside relevant article text.
- Niche edit: a contextual link added to an existing, indexed article.
- Link velocity: the rate at which a site gains links over time.
Link type terms
- Edu/gov backlink: a link from a .edu or .gov domain (trusted when relevant).
- Web 2.0 backlink: a link from a branded mini-site on an established platform.
- Profile backlink: a link from an account profile field.
- PBN: a private blog network — high-risk and discouraged.