web sites or pages?

[tonyww]

Does Google index pages or groups of pages. Or, to put it another way, does it compare pages within a site? Does it take notice of site-structure?

[Vadim]

Disclaimer. Only Google knows how it works.

Google certainly compares the pages that are linked. I believe that it uses the structure but not the directories structure but rather the link structure. From the point of view of the main Google customer, i.e. a searcher, the directories structure is irrelevant.

Vadim

[MHes]

I think Google still works on a page basis. The value of links from other pages will possibly be effected if:

1) same ip
2) From a links/directory/blog style page.
3) Possibly a big dampening factor from pages sharing many 'template' features and/or anchor text from the same ip.

On top of this is an overall look for patterns in the linking structure, such as:

1) Anchor text patterns (google wants a natural mix)
2) Community of closed interlinking sites
3) Predominence of Recipricol links.
4) Links from off theme pages.

As Vadim says, its all guess work :)

[Brian]

I would say, yes, it pays a lot of attention to content and link relationships between pages within a site. If by structure, you mean subdirectories, I'd say they don't mean anything to Google.