Knowledge diffusion trajectories of PageRank: A main path analysis

In the era of the Internet and big data, the PageRank (PR) algorithm is a constantly evolving research field. However, there is no systematic research to explore the overall development trend of the PR domain. This article evaluates 1446 articles related to the PR algorithm and provides a thorough understanding of the PR field through the main path analysis (MPA). Through two basic main paths, a number of papers that play a leading role have been identified, which outline the backbone of the PR domain. Based on the analysis of multiple main paths, four main subareas have been investigated. There are accelerating the computation of PR, comprehensive applications of PR, researches on academic impact assessment and age preference in network evolution. Finally, this article discusses the research findings and the future directions of the PR field. It is the first attempt to identify the development trend of the PR domain through MPA, thus providing an insight into the knowledge evolution of the PR field over the past two decades.