Is it age or the number of back links that really matter to Google when it comes to page rank assignment?

Nope ....

Both for sure!

Back link is just one of the important factors that help you get high PR. Make sure to get lots of quality of back links because Google gives more value on them.

Lots of backlinks from high pr sites will get you there if you are lucky!

yes, domain age is the one factor for serp

So you are saying new sites and page can never ever be seen in the SERPs then?

Dont try getting that because if you try getting so many links you would get more frustrated. Concentrate on getting natural links with content / pages which should be linked naturally and that would help you get more links and higher in PR

Sure, page important is used for calculate the link and PR

you don't need to worry too much about domain age or numerous backlinks, a few backlinks will help get your site indexed and if they are high PR sites that will help your PR.

It's the number of high PR links.

http://www.compar.com/infopool/artic...lculation.html

Old article, but still accurate in a basic way.

links help you generate both backlinks and traffic. they help if you have links coming from some popular and most visted pages. so google loves links of all types, when i say all typres i mean all the relevant and white hat links

PR is dictated by links.

Where you are getting confused, I think, is the difference between PR and SERP position. PR is one factor (albeit an important one) that google uses to determine your SERP position. Another factor, also important, is called domain authority. Domain authority also has multiple factors including quality and relevance of your incoming links (Google really does LOVE links) AND the age of the domain.

So... PR is about links and links only. But the age of your site does affect it's domain authority and both factors will be considered (along with relevance) in determining your site's ultimate position in the SERPs.

Actually google doesn't "love links" per se. It is the Anchor Text of the links that is the useful factor.

Toolbar PR, the out of date, inaccurate integer reprensentation of real PR is not even a factor never mind an "important" part.
Real PR the one only Google knows the scale and value of, is used as a small factor in positioning BUT it's main use is in when the other factors deem that two pages are equal real PR is used as the deciding factor

the "age" of domain is of no importance at all, after all what constitures the age??
It's what happens to a site while it is getting old that matters.

PR directly mean to number of back links but SERP i think it depend number of back links and your Trust Rank as well

Age is a factor in ranking and trust of a domain for SURE but I'm not sure it directly affects page rank.

Page rank is more commonly associated with the number and quality of your backlinks and other factors such as content, website statistics, website quality and so on.

Originally Posted by junosama

Age is a factor in ranking and trust of a domain for SURE but I'm not sure it directly affects page rank.

Page rank is more commonly associated with the number and quality of your backlinks and other factors such as content, website statistics, website quality and so on.

Not true and again not true.

Originally Posted by .netdan

Is it age or the number of back links that really matter to Google when it comes to page rank assignment?

Before, I thought that the more backlinks you have, the better your SERP will be.... But, my FREE MEDICAL VIDEO sites ranks 8, 2, 4, and 10 in 4 major keywords. Its only has few backlinks (about 136 on my last check).

Surely domain age refers to the time since the domain and its content were indexed? Hence the suppression effect sites in some categories get for the first few months of their existence. I used to be dubious about "sandbox" but having witnessed it first hand on three projects this year, there is definitely a suppression factor on newly indexed domains while they prove their "worth" to the index.

Originally Posted by chrishirst

Actually google doesn't "love links" per se. It is the Anchor Text of the links that is the useful factor.

Toolbar PR, the out of date, inaccurate integer reprensentation of real PR is not even a factor never mind an "important" part.
Real PR the one only Google knows the scale and value of, is used as a small factor in positioning BUT it's main use is in when the other factors deem that two pages are equal real PR is used as the deciding factor

the "age" of domain is of no importance at all, after all what constitures the age??
It's what happens to a site while it is getting old that matters.

yes age and number of back links both matters