Every link can carry an HTML attribute that tells search engines how to treat it. A plain link is DoFollow by default — search engines can follow it and let it contribute to the target page’s authority. A NoFollow link carries rel="nofollow", originally introduced so site owners could link out (in comments, forums, etc.) without endorsing or passing authority to the destination.
The related attributes
Two more specific attributes exist alongside nofollow: rel="sponsored" for paid or advertising links, and rel="ugc" for user-generated content like blog comments and forum posts. Search engines have said they treat all three as hints rather than absolute rules, but using the right one is still good practice.
Why NoFollow links still matter
A NoFollow link won’t directly pass authority the way a DoFollow link can, but it can still send real traffic, build brand visibility, and contribute to a link profile that looks natural rather than artificially engineered. Most large, reputable platforms — social networks, Q&A sites, many news comment sections — use NoFollow by default, so a healthy site naturally accumulates plenty of them.
How to check which one you’re getting
View the page source and search for the link, or use a browser extension built for this. On our own directory, every listing states it upfront — see the DoFollow Backlinks category if that’s specifically what you’re after.