The difference between a backlink and an external link depends on the point of view.
From one point of view, a backlink is a link coming in. From another point of view, the same link is an external link going out.
In other words, the link is the same. Only the point of view is different.
Why “Backlink vs External Link” is All About Perspective
The term “backlink” relates to the website that is being linked to.
An “external link” relates to the website that is doing the linking.
If one website links to another, one is sending the link and the other is receiving it. Therefore, one website is receiving a backlink, while the other is creating an external link.
The same link is interpreted differently depending on the perspective.
Backlink vs External Link From the Receiving Site
If we are talking about a website that receives links, we use the term “backlink.”
If another website links to your article, that link is considered a backlink.
From this point of view, the focus is on:
- Where the link is coming from
- How many websites are linking in
- How the links are distributed
The website is not doing the linking. It is receiving the link.
Backlink vs External Link From the Linking Site
If you write an article and include a link to another website, you are creating an external link.
From this perspective, the focus is on:
- Where the link is pointing
- How the link fits into the content
- The number of outgoing references
The site is actively sending out links rather than receiving them.
Explore our What Are Backlinks resources for a deeper understanding of how backlinks work.
A Simple Example of the Same Link
Let us assume there are two websites: a blog and a research site.
For the blog:
The link is an external link
For the research site:
the same link is a backlink
Nothing about the link itself changes. Only the perspective changes.
Where This Often Goes Wrong
A common misconception is that backlinks and external links are different types of links.
This is not true.
They are two different names for the same link, based on perspective. The confusion usually comes from not distinguishing between the sending side and the receiving side.
A single link can be both a backlink and an external link at the same time.
