What is an External Link? Definition & SEO Impact
Definition
An external link (also called outbound link) is a hyperlink that points from a page on your site to a page on a different domain. The opposite of an internal link, external links are how the web is woven together and are often used to cite sources or recommend related resources.
Why external links matter
- Editorial trust — citing authoritative sources signals quality to both users and search engines.
- Topical context — links to relevant pages help Google understand what your content is about.
- User experience — well-chosen outbound links can complete the answer to a user's question.
Best practices
- Open external links in a new tab when it improves UX, but don't dogmatically apply this to every link.
- Use rel="nofollow",
sponsoredorugcwhen appropriate. - Audit external links regularly — they go stale fast as other sites change. Scan your site to catch broken outbound links.
- Avoid linking to spammy or low-quality sites — Google can use outbound link patterns as a quality signal.
External links are part of being a good citizen of the web. Keep yours fresh and relevant — broken outbound links erode trust and signal a poorly maintained site.
Related terms
nofollow
The link attribute that tells search engines not to pass ranking signals.
Internal Link
Links between pages on the same domain — the backbone of site structure.
404 Error
What happens when a page can't be found — and how it affects SEO.
Broken Link
A hyperlink that no longer leads to its intended destination.
Link Rot
The gradual decay of links over time as pages move or disappear.
Anchor Text
The visible, clickable text of a hyperlink that describes where the link leads.