In determining result because seeking, search engine applies a real complicated algorithm and variable which is a real many. Between it is usage keywords, meta, inbound link, density, content and link popularity. Link popularity is beginning of from pagerank.
Link popularity, be a concept developed to overcome insuffiency from other technology of which able to be insincere with insincere any trik like hidden text, doorway pages, cloaking which usualy is called as trik seo black hat. With link popularity, every page will be considered inbound link ( link admission) and outbound link ( link exit). This concept technically can lessen effect from trik to cheat search engine based on by onpage optimization.
Pagerank, has the same base concept with link popularity, but pagerank is not only considers inbound link and outbound link. Approach applied was : a page would be important if other page had link to the page. a page also will become increasingly important if other page having high rank lead to the page.
With approach applied by pagerank, a rank will be determined by rank from web page which the rank determined by rank other web page having link to the page. If it is observed, process this means a recuring process ( recursive). Where in internet there is millions of even billion web pages. Therefore a rangking web page determined from structure link from overall of the web page in virtual world.A real big process and complex which it is of course requires resources a real big.