In SEO (Search Engine Optimization), "nofollow" is an HTML attribute used to tell search engines not to follow a particular link. When a link has the "nofollow" attribute, it means that the link does not pass any "link juice" or ranking value to the linked page, and the link will not be counted as a vote in favor of the linked page.
The "nofollow" attribute is typically used on links that are paid or sponsored, or on links that are added in user-generated content, such as blog comments and forum posts. This helps prevent spammy or low-quality links from manipulating search engine rankings.
It's worth noting that while "nofollow" links don't directly impact a site's search engine rankings, they can still provide value in terms of referral traffic and branding. Additionally, having a natural mix of both "follow" and "nofollow" links is generally considered to be a sign of a healthy and diverse backlink profile.