PageRank: the key invention behind Google

To remember from this article

• PageRank was invented in 1996 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin.
• This system is based on the analysis of inbound links between web pages.
• It has set Google apart from other search engines.
• Despite its evolution, PageRank remains at the heart of Google's algorithm.
• The patent belongs to Stanford University, then licensed to Google.

The inventors of PageRank: Larry Page and Sergey Brin

When I became interested in the history of Google, I couldn't ignore the fundamental role of PageRank. This system was devised by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, two doctoral students from Stanford University, in 1996.

Their ambition? To reorganize the growing chaos of the web by using an objective method to assess the relevance of pages. Their idea was to use the links between pages as a form of voting. The more quality links a page receives, the more worthy it is judged to be.

I think this is a brilliant idea. It is directly inspired by scientific publications, where the reputation of an article is often based on the number of times it is cited.

How does PageRank work?

How PageRank works may seem complex at first, but in reality, the principle is quite intuitive. Each web page is assigned a score, calculated on the basis of the quantity and quality of the information it contains. inbound links.

• Each link to a page is interpreted as a vote.
• A link from a popular page carries more weight than an ordinary link.
• The score is redistributed with each iteration, until equilibrium is reached.

I appreciate this mathematical logic, as it highlights the dynamics of the web as a trusted ecosystem. It's an elegant way of using links to assess the value of a page, without direct human intervention.

The impact of PageRank on the web

The launch of Google with PageRank at its heart marked a turning point. For the first time, search results were truly relevant, ranked almost objectively.

As a user at the time, I remember this change. Google stood out from the crowd, and this was largely due to this famous innovation. By the 2000s, Google had become the dominant search engine, eclipsing its competitors.

Even today, although Google's algorithm is far more complex (with over 200 signals), PageRank still plays a major role.

Evolution and limits of PageRank

Of course, like any powerful system, PageRank has been hijacked. Strategies such as link farms or the SEO spam to manipulate the results.

As a result, Google's algorithm has had to evolve. Today, it no longer limits itself to links alone, but also analyzes content quality, user experience, loading speed and mobile-friendliness.

Personally, I think these adjustments are essential. The Internet is changing, and classification tools need to keep pace with this evolution to guarantee reliable and useful information.

Is PageRank still used today?

Yes, PageRank is still used, even if Google no longer communicates its score publicly. It remains a key part of the algorithm, in a much more advanced version than in its early days.

In other words, even if you don't see it anymore, it's working behind the scenes, discreetly but effectively.

Who holds the PageRank patent?

The PageRank patent does not belong to Google, but to Stanford University. In fact, Larry Page and Sergey Brin assigned the patent to their university, which then licensed it to Google.

I find this interesting from an ethical and academic point of view. It shows that even great technological innovations can be born in a university setting and then exported to the private sector.

To sum up, PageRank remains a pillar of the modern web. It has enabled a remarkable technological advance and continues to influence the way we search for - and find - information on the Internet.