Webmaster Tools "Links to your Site"

[aristotle]

In WMT "links to your site" section, above the detailed lists of individual backlinks for each page, it says that these are the "top domains" linking to that page. Does the word "top" mean that the listed links are the most valuable in Google's eyes, and that backlinks not on the list are less valuable?

Because some of the listed backlinks are junky and spammy, why would Google say they are from "top domains"? Does it mean they are the best of a bad lot?

[BradleyT]

Is there a reason why you don't think that it lists all domains linking to you?

[aristotle]

Is there a reason why you don't think that it lists all domains linking to you?

Yes, because some backlinks that used to be on the lists aren't there now, even though they are still live on the web. They were dropped from the lists for unknown reasons.

What I'm wondering is what the word "top" means. Does it mean that the lists are only showing your most "valuable" backlinks?

[Mark_A]

We have seen some very strange results in WMT links..

However, google under reports links when using the link: operator also.

I basically think google is not to be trusted when reporting links.