E-E-A-T
Short answer
E-E-A-T is not a specific ranking factor. It names aspects of helpful content (experience, expertise, authoritativeness, trustworthiness) that Google's systems identify through a mix of signals. Trust matters most, and quality raters' assessments are not used directly in ranking.
Definition
Section titled “Definition”What it is not
Section titled “What it is not”There is no E-E-A-T score to measure or optimize directly. Claims of a single E-E-A-T signal, such as an author bio, a badge or a schema property, go beyond what Google documents.
YMYL topics
Section titled “YMYL topics”Quality raters
Section titled “Quality raters”The rater guidelines are therefore a useful self-assessment tool, not a ranking specification.
Not established
Section titled “Not established”- Whether, or how, AI answer engines other than Google weigh comparable signals when choosing sources. Their documentation does not use the term.