External Link

Quick Definition

An external link (outbound link) is a hyperlink from your website to a page on a different website. Linking to authoritative sources builds trust with both users and search engines.

Ahrefs glossary definition of external links

What Is an External Link?

A hyperlink pointing to a different domain. Ahrefs: "a hyperlink that leads to a page outside a particular website." Opposite of internal link. When someone links TO you, it's a backlink.

Why: trust (cite sources), user value, SEO signal. Myth busted: linking out doesn't lose link juice.

Best practices: link authoritative sources, open in new tab, rel="nofollow" for affiliates, descriptive anchor text, audit regularly.

Why It Matters

Trust signal. Pages citing sources rank better. See our SEO checklist and writing guide.

Sources: Google Search Central: Qualify Outbound Links, Google Search Central: Link Best Practices

Related Terms

Anchor TextAnchor text is the visible, clickable text in a hyperlink. It tells users and search engines what the linked page is about. Descriptive anchor text improves both accessibility and SEO.BacklinkA backlink is a link from another website that points to your site. Search engines treat backlinks as votes of confidence — the more high-quality sites that link to you, the higher your WordPress site can rank in Google.Internal LinkAn internal link is a hyperlink that points from one page on your website to another page on the same website. Internal links help visitors navigate and tell search engines how your content is organized.

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