What is the difference between internal and external backlinks?

Internal and external backlinks refer to different types of hyperlinks on a website, each serving distinct purposes in SEO and user navigation:

1. **Internal Backlinks**:
   - **Definition**: Internal backlinks are hyperlinks that point from one page to another within the same website domain.
   - **Purpose**: They are used to connect different pages and content within the website, helping users navigate and discover related or relevant information.
   - **SEO Impact**: Internal backlinks help search engines crawl and index the website more effectively. They distribute authority (link juice) throughout the site, influencing the rankings of individual pages.

2. **External Backlinks**:
   - **Definition**: External backlinks, also known as inbound links or incoming links, are hyperlinks that originate from a different domain and point to a page on your website.
   - **Purpose**: They are primarily used to indicate authority, credibility, and relevance to search engines. They also drive referral traffic from other websites to yours.
   - **SEO Impact**: External backlinks are a crucial ranking factor. High-quality, relevant backlinks from authoritative domains can significantly improve a website's search engine rankings. They are harder to control than internal links because they rely on other webmasters linking to your content.

**Key Differences**:

- **Source**: Internal backlinks originate from within the same website domain, while external backlinks come from external domains.
 
- **Navigation vs. Authority**: Internal backlinks aid in website navigation and user experience, guiding visitors to related content. External backlinks signal authority and trustworthiness to search engines, contributing to SEO performance.

- **Control**: Webmasters have full control over internal linking structures, facilitating strategic navigation and SEO efforts. External backlinks are influenced by other websites' decisions to link to your content, often based on content quality, relevance, and authority.

In SEO strategy, both internal and external backlinks play critical roles in enhancing user experience, establishing authority, and improving search engine rankings. Effective management of both types of links contributes to a comprehensive SEO approach that boosts visibility, traffic, and overall website performance.