What is Google Toolbar?

[PeterHo]

I've read a couple of posts here and all of them mentions the Google Toolbar, what is it?
And PR like 6, 7, 8?
I'm quite new to this field but maybe someone can explain?

[takagi]

Hi PeterHo, welcome to WebmasterWorld.

Google Toolbar is a toolbar you can install [toolbar.google.com] when you use IE on a Windows PC. After installation you can see the PageRank (PR) of a page. This can range from 0 (not important page according to Google) to 10 (very important page according to Google). With a PR8 you will usually do better on the SERP (Search Engine Results Page) than a PR6. Although it is possible for a PR6 to have a better ranking because PageRank is not the only way for Google to order ther results.

[heini]

Peter, a very handy reference for all things Google is this:
Google Knowledge Base [webmasterworld.com]

[martinibuster]

Hi PeterHo,
Welcome to WebmasterWorld. The toolbar is a browser add-on that allows you to search google without having to leave your current page. You can also do a site search of the particular page as well as view it's google directory category, language translation, and much more. It's like a batman utility belt for your browser.

PR is a reference to one of Google's proprietary components used for measuring/ranking a web page's authority in regard to a given set of keywords.

Here you can find out more about the toolbar [toolbar.google.com].

And this is how Google explains [google.com] PageRank.

Also, be sure to read the terms of service for webmasterworld (link at the bottom of this page). The TOS is part of what makes WebmasterWorld a pleasant place to interact with the webmaster community.

[PeterHo]

Does sites that are not submitted to Google get a PR?

[martinibuster]

If you are interested in Google, then I highly recommend that you read the Google Knowledge Base [webmasterworld.com], as Heini suggested.

In general, as long as you have links pointing to your site, Google will find you.

[PeterHo]

Then there is no point in submitting a page if Google can find you through links?

[Michael Weir]

You don't have to submit - google spiders very extensively and can pick up new content on it's own.

The google toolbar is also very handy with searches; not just because it has a search window integrated in it - more specifically, if you are browsing a page that has a ton of content in it you can use the highlight tool to quickly find the phrases you searched for.

[JesseT]

Not much more I can add on to what has already been said outside of "I like it".
I tried a similar toolbar offered by another company but I found it to be a bit more intrusive than the google toolbar.