> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.shareofmodel.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# What's the difference between sources and links?

> Cited URLs feed the LLM's answer; ranked URLs appear in it. Learn why the distinction matters for activation.

In the **Search Visibility** module you already see domains and URLs ranked, along with brand mentions. You also see **sources and citations** appear. Both look like URLs or domains — what's the difference, and why does it matter for activation?

## Cited URL vs. Ranked URL

| Term           | What it means                                                                                   | Key attributes                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| -------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Cited URL**  | A URL whose content the LLM uses to *generate* its answer. This is a Source.                    | Has a *citation rate* (frequency as a source). No ranking position. LLMs only. Labelled "Source" in Share Of Model (Search module).                                                                 |
| **Ranked URL** | A URL that *appears directly* in the model's generated answer (shown as a link or visible URL). | Has a *presence rate* (frequency of visibility). Has a *rank* or *position* in the answer. Concerns LLMs and traditional engines (Google, Bing). Labelled "Link" in Share Of Model (Search module). |

## Examples

Prompt: *"What are the best running shoes for trail?"*

In ChatGPT you may see the answer cite several **sources** behind the scenes — URLs whose content was used to build the answer — alongside some **ranked domains as links**.

<Frame caption="ChatGPT — sources accessible from the interface">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/jellyfish/1rMIg-8SOmLmzQ1C/images/platform/search/upload_3331886105461161277-51227efa.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=1rMIg-8SOmLmzQ1C&q=85&s=9336cb288be39fa09b0999d1279bd06f" alt="ChatGPT example" width="1934" height="1561" data-path="images/platform/search/upload_3331886105461161277-51227efa.png" />
</Frame>

Sources are not always accessible from the user interface. In Gemini, for the same prompt, neither the sources nor any ranked domain appears in the visible answer.

<Frame caption="Gemini — same prompt, no visible sources or links">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/jellyfish/1rMIg-8SOmLmzQ1C/images/platform/search/upload_267521612878514764-04787cd0.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=1rMIg-8SOmLmzQ1C&q=85&s=46ddf4e4589e04c49d05e73f3425dfb3" alt="Gemini example" width="1565" height="728" data-path="images/platform/search/upload_267521612878514764-04787cd0.png" />
</Frame>

## Important notes

<Note>
  * The model **always** uses sources (cited URLs) to build its answer.
  * Not all sources are displayed as ranked URLs, and not all ranked URLs are used as sources.
  * Whether sources are accessible depends on the model, prompt and collect.
  * There are typically **more sources** feeding the answer than URLs shown in the final response.
  * Sources may or may not mention brands.
</Note>

## Why we distinguish the two

The distinction matters for **activation and strategy** — each type plays a different role in your visibility ecosystem.

| Objective                               | Focus on             | Why it matters                                                                                                                          |
| --------------------------------------- | -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Content influence / brand authority** | Cited URLs (Sources) | Indicates which domains the LLM trusts to generate answers. Being cited as a source strengthens brand authority in AI-generated search. |
| **Visibility / click potential**        | Ranked URLs (Links)  | These appear in front of users and can drive clicks or impressions. Comparable to SEO rankings inside LLM answers.                      |

## To recap

* **Cited URLs** = "Sources" in the Search module = what the LLM *reads*.
* **Ranked URLs** = "Links" in the Search module = what the user *sees*.
* Both matter — they activate different levers: **influence vs. visibility**.

## What's next

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Sources & Links view" icon="link" href="/platform/search/sources-links-what-how-purpose">
    Explore sources and links in the platform.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Query Fan-out Explained" icon="circle-question" href="/platform/search/what-is-query-fan-out-and-why-it-matters-in-llm-search">
    The internal layer that produces sources and links.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>