What is a Pingback?

The word “ping” originally came from the development of radar wherein a signal was transmitted and then the radar station would wait for the signal to return in order to analyze it. The transmission of this sound emitted a sharp, high-pitched sound that was known as a “ping.”

Pingbacks And The Internet

In internet terms, a ping refers to a similar procedure in which a message is transmitted from one computer to another computer. If a response is returned, then the first computer knows that the other computer is active and connected to the network.

Pingbacks And WordPress

For WordPress, a pingback operates quite similarly. If you link to another website in one of your posts, then this sends a signal to the other website to inform them that you have created the link.

In order for a pingback to work, the other website must have pingbacks enabled. WordPress allows you to easily enable pingbacks so that you are informed when another website links to content on your site.

With some WordPress themes, the pingback information is automatically displayed, including an excerpt of the content from the other website that links to your website. With other themes, this pingback information won’t be displayed on your website, but you will see the information in your administration panel next to where information about comments is displayed.

To change your pingback settings, log into your administration panel. On the left-hand side, click on “Settings” and then “Discussion.” You’ll see some text that says “attempt to notify any blogs linked to from the article.” This is referring to pingbacks. Click on the appropriate box to active sending pingbacks.

To allow your theme to display pingback information (when the theme permits it), click on “Allow link notifications from other blogs (pingbacks and trackbacks) on new article.”

Note: Pingbacks and trackbacks are virtually identical in how they function.