What does "Nofollow" mean in a link attribute?

Nofollow in a link attribute is specifically designed to instruct search engines not to pass link equity or "link juice" to the linked page. This means that while users can still click the link, and it will lead them to the intended destination, search engines will not consider this link as a vote of confidence or authority for the target page. This is particularly useful for webmasters who want to avoid endorsing certain pages, such as those that are paid ads, user-generated content, or those they do not fully support.

By using the Nofollow attribute, webmasters can help maintain their site's SEO integrity and control how link equity is distributed across the web. It essentially acts as a way to guide search engines on how to handle specific links, ensuring that only those links that genuinely deserve to pass authority do so. Understanding the implications of the Nofollow attribute is fundamental for anyone looking to effectively manage their site's SEO strategy.