1. Source
Stored backlink evidence. The result identifies where its evidence came from.
Free tool, no account required
Free Backlink Checker & Citation Explorer
The Novaverb backlink checker reads stored backlink evidence for a domain and shows the referring domains, link totals, follow status and authority that the active source captured, leaving every unmeasured field unavailable.
Also known as: Backlink checker, referring domains
Evidence shown with sourceNo account requiredNo invented metrics
Run a real check above
Submit a public URL, domain, or keyword. Novaverb will show only the evidence this tool can actually retrieve or measure.
Definition
What is a backlink checker?
A backlink checker reports the links that other websites point at a domain. The Novaverb Backlink Checker is a domain-level check that reads stored backlink evidence, either a stored summary or an observed referring-domain graph, and shows the link totals, referring domains and authority that the active source actually captured.
Scope
What does the backlink checker check?
The backlink checker reports an authority score out of 100, total backlinks, referring domains, dofollow domains, root domains and the dofollow share of referring domains. A table lists the top referring domains by authority. Every field is filled only when the active source captured it, and otherwise reads not captured.
Who it is for
Who is the backlink checker for?
The backlink checker is for site owners who want a first read of who links to their domain, for SEO specialists sizing a competitor's referring domains before outreach, for agencies preparing a prospect review, and for buyers of an existing domain who need to see what link evidence is on record.
Why it matters
Why use a backlink checker?
Use a backlink checker before planning link work, because outreach planned without knowing the starting profile is aimed blind. A domain-level read shows whether links come from many distinct websites or from a few, and whether the evidence on record is a full summary or only a graph of referring domains.
Method
How does the backlink checker work?
The backlink checker first normalizes the target to a domain and looks for a stored backlink summary. If no stored summary is available, the observed referring-domain graph is queried. The result is then labeled with its evidence type, and link totals, relationship shares or authority stay unavailable when that source did not measure them.
- We normalize the target and look for a stored backlink summary.
- If no stored summary is available, we query the observed referring-domain graph.
- We label the active evidence type and leave link totals, relationship shares or authority unavailable when that source did not measure them.
Input
What do you enter into the backlink checker?
Enter a public domain or a full URL into the backlink checker. Scheme, www and path are removed, so a page address is rolled up to its domain and never becomes a page-level report. Text without a dot, or containing a space, is refused with a request for a valid domain such as example.com.
Use it like this
yourdomain.comAny address form works - we normalize to the domain. http or https, with or without www, a bare domain or a full path - we normalize it for you.https://www.yourdomain.com/pagePaste a full URL if you like - backlinks are a domain-level signal, so we roll it up to the domain automatically.Avoid this
Expecting per-page backlinksThis public result is normalized to a domain-level target; it is not a page-level backlink inventory.Result
What does the backlink checker report contain?
A backlink checker report contains a header with the domain, the evidence type and the capture date when known. Below are the authority gauge, the tiles for backlinks, referring domains, dofollow domains and root domains, the table of top referring domains, a note on how to read the figures and an analysis panel.
Reading it
How do you read a backlink checker result?
Read a backlink checker result by checking the evidence label first. A stored backlink summary can carry link totals and follow status. A referring-domain graph reports observed domains only, so total backlinks and dofollow share stay blank. Not captured never means zero, and authority is the source index's comparison score, not a search-engine ranking metric.
What does a backlink checker measure?
A backlink is a link from another website to a page on your domain. This checker reports only the fields available for the exact domain. A complete backlink-index result can include link totals, referring domains, follow status and authority; a web-wide domain-graph result reports observed referring domains and leaves unavailable fields blank.
How to read the numbers
- Total backlinks: links recorded for this domain by the active source; one site can contribute many links. This is not a complete web-wide count.
- Referring domains: the unique websites that link to it. Link diversity matters more than a big raw total.
- Dofollow domains: referring domains with at least one followed link. The relationship label does not prove ranking benefit.
- Domain authority: a source index's 0–100 comparison score, not a Google ranking metric or a guarantee of future positions.
What to improve next
Earn relevant, editorial links to your important pages. Watch for spammy patterns, reclaim broken-link opportunities, and track new referring domains over time instead of chasing a single total.
What this free check does not prove
It does not show every link on the web, prove a link is valuable, measure a Google penalty, or replace a full link audit.
Go deeper in your workspace
View captured source pages, anchors and target URLs in your workspace. Available detail and history depend on the selected source and account access.
Source
Where does the backlink checker get its data?
The backlink checker gets its data from stored backlink evidence. That means a stored domain summary when one exists, or otherwise a referring-domain graph of independently observed linking domains. The result names which evidence type answered, and shows the capture date or states that the capture time is unavailable.
Limits
What does the backlink checker not tell you?
The backlink checker does not tell you every link on the web. No link index is complete, the public result is not a page-level inventory, and individual source pages, anchors and target URLs are not listed. The check also cannot prove that a link is valuable, and does not replace a full link audit.
Evidence
What does a backlink checker result prove?
A backlink checker result proves that the active source recorded the listed referring domains and counts for this domain. Absence of other links is not proven, and an unavailable result does not prove the domain has no backlinks. Totals from a summary and observations from a graph answer different questions and are never combined.
2. Boundary
This check uses a stored domain summary or a referring-domain graph. Missing fields stay unavailable; a workspace shows captured records, not every link on the web.
3. Next action
Use the finding to verify a problem, then connect a workspace when you need history, monitoring, or site-wide analysis.
Standards
Which standards does the backlink checker apply?
The backlink checker applies the HTML link relation types defined in the WHATWG HTML standard. Those rel values explain relationship fields such as dofollow domains, and only when the active backlink source provides them. A relationship label describes how a link is marked up and does not prove any ranking benefit.
WHATWGrel types
HTML link relation types
Explains relationship fields only when the active backlink source provides them.
Read the specificationWe list a standard only where this tool genuinely reads or measures against it. Where a signal is outside a live check, the result says so instead of implying coverage.
Verification
How can you verify a backlink checker result yourself?
Verify a backlink checker result by opening several of the listed referring domains and finding the link to your domain on those sites. View the page source to read the rel attribute on the anchor. Then compare the referring domains with the links report in the webmaster account where your own site is verified.
Example
What does a typical backlink checker finding look like?
A typical backlink checker finding is a domain answered by the referring-domain graph. The header reads web-wide referring-domain graph, the referring domains and root domains tiles are filled, and total backlinks and dofollow domains read not captured. The table then lists the strongest referring domains in order of authority.
Cost
Is the backlink checker free?
The backlink checker is free to run and needs no account. An account is needed for the link-level detail the public summary leaves out: captured source pages, anchors and target URLs, kept as saved evidence in a workspace, with the available detail and history depending on the selected source and account access.
In a workspace
What does a Novaverb workspace add to the backlink checker?
A Novaverb workspace adds Backlinks Explorer to the backlink checker. Backlinks Explorer shows who links to the site with referring domains and categorized anchor text, joins outbound and internal links to the site's own crawl, and reports each link as live, lost or redirected from the source that observed it.
When to go further
When is a free backlink checker not enough?
A free backlink checker is not enough when links have to be audited or followed over time. A domain summary cannot show which page each link points to, which links were lost, or how internal links connect your own pages. Those questions need captured link records and a crawl of the whole site.
Next step
What should you do after running the backlink checker?
After running the backlink checker, first confirm the evidence type and the capture date. Then open the top referring domains and judge their relevance. Next compare the referring-domain count with sites that hold the results you want, and finally plan how to earn relevant editorial links to your important pages.
Related tools
Which free tools pair with the backlink checker?
The HTTP Status & Redirect Checker, Competitor Top Pages and the Website SEO Checker pair with the backlink checker. The HTTP Status & Redirect Checker traces status codes and redirect chains for linked URLs. Competitor Top Pages lists a domain's pages by estimated organic traffic. The Website SEO Checker reads a homepage's title, headings and indexability directives.
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Questions
What do people ask about the backlink checker?
People using the backlink checker ask what a backlink is, how backlinks differ from referring domains, what a dofollow link and domain authority mean, how many referring domains a site needs, whether Novaverb estimates the numbers, whether the full list of individual backlinks is shown, and how to improve a backlink profile.
What does the Backlink Checker show?
This domain-level check reports available stored backlink evidence. A stored summary may include link and referring-domain totals, relationship data and an index authority score. A referring-domain graph reports observed domains, not a complete inventory of backlink URLs, and unsupported fields remain unavailable.
What is a backlink?
A backlink is a link from one website to another. Search engines treat relevant, trusted backlinks as endorsements, so they are a major off-page signal influencing how authoritative and rankable a domain appears.
What's the difference between backlinks and referring domains?
Backlinks count every individual link pointing to you; referring domains count the unique websites those links come from. One domain can send many backlinks, so referring domains often better reflect link diversity.
What is a dofollow link?
Dofollow is a common label for a link that is not qualified with nofollow. Relationship labels do not prove ranking benefit; the tool reports them only when captured by its selected source.
What is domain authority?
Domain authority is a link index's comparison score, not a Google ranking metric or a guarantee of future positions. This checker shows an authority value only when the selected source supplies one.
Why do backlinks matter for SEO?
Backlinks from relevant, trustworthy sites act as votes of confidence that can lift a domain's visibility and rankings. A diverse profile of quality referring domains generally signals more authority than raw link volume alone.
How many referring domains do I need?
There is no fixed number; it depends on your niche and competitors. Quality and relevance outweigh quantity, so a handful of trusted, topical domains can outperform many low-value ones. Compare against sites ranking for your terms.
Does Novaverb estimate these numbers?
No counts are invented. Counts come from the selected source for the submitted domain. Authority, when available, is that index's comparison score, not a Google metric.
Can I see the full list of individual backlinks?
This check uses a stored domain summary or a referring-domain graph. Missing fields stay unavailable; a workspace shows captured records, not every link on the web.
How do I improve my backlink profile?
Earn links from relevant, reputable sites through useful content, digital PR, and genuine outreach, prioritizing dofollow links from diverse referring domains. Avoid low-quality or paid link schemes that search engines may discount or penalize.