Index vs Nofollow: How Crawlers Interpret Them

What is the Difference?

• Index: Tells crawlers to add the page to their search index.
• Nofollow: Tells crawlers not to follow links on this page (or a specific link).

They control different aspects of crawlability and indexability.

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Common Misconceptions

People often confuse noindex (don't show in results) with nofollow (don't pass authority). You can have a page that is index, nofollow.

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FAQ: Index vs Nofollow

Does nofollow prevent indexing?

No. A page can still be indexed if other sites link to it without nofollow.

Should I use nofollow for internal links?

Generally no. You want authority to flow through your site.

What is the default?

The default is index, follow.

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Next to read

• Meta Noindex: When and How to Use It Safely
• Noindex vs Robots.txt: What’s the Difference?