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These terms show up in scan exports, Search Console, and cleanup tickets. We define them in plain language so a spam flag is not mistaken for a Google penalty. Use the toxic backlink checker when you need a live shortlist, then come back here if a column heading is unclear.
Nothing here is a substitute for Google Search documentation. Vendor scores stay heuristics. Disavow stays optional and rare.
The clickable text of a hyperlink, which can be branded, naked URL, generic, or keyword-rich.
A text file uploaded in Search Console that asks Google to ignore listed links or domains when assessing your site.
A normal hyperlink without rel modifiers that tell crawlers not to treat it as an endorsement signal.
A tactic where an expired domain is re-registered and redirected to pass old links toward a new destination.
Google's link spam ranking system that targets manipulative links; now part of core systems rather than rare named updates.
A site or network built primarily to host large volumes of outbound links with little genuine content value.
Any attempt to manipulate ranking with links that violate Google's spam policies on manipulative linking.
The rate at which new backlinks or referring domains appear over time, used as a pattern clue rather than a ranking score.
A human-reviewed penalty in Search Console when Google finds clear spam policy violations on a site.
Hostile tactics meant to harm a competitor's search visibility, including spammy link campaigns against their site.
A link marked with rel=nofollow or related qualifiers so crawlers treat it as a non-endorsement hint.
A group of sites controlled to manufacture links, often with thin content and repeated outbound patterns.
A unique website domain that contains at least one page linking to your site, counted once no matter how many URLs link.
A backlink from a page that copies or spins other sites' text mainly to host outbound links or fill a spam network.
A link that appears on many or all pages of a site, often in a header, footer, or sidebar template.
A third-party heuristic label that estimates how spammy a domain or page looks in that vendor's index, not a Google metric.
Google's AI-based spam-fighting system that detects many forms of search spam, including some link spam patterns.
A backlink that looks manipulative, spammy, or harmful enough that it deserves careful review rather than celebration.