Which criterion is crucial when evaluating a website's authority?

When evaluating a website's authority, understanding who is responsible for the content is paramount. This includes identifying the authors, their qualifications, and any affiliations they may have with reputable organizations or institutions. Websites backed by experts or well-known organizations often carry more credibility because the information presented is more likely to be accurate, relevant, and trustworthy. Authority is closely tied to the expertise and reliability of the source, making this criterion essential for determining the overall quality of the information provided on the website.

Other aspects like design and layout, loading speed, and the length of the content can play a role in user experience but do not directly impact the authority of the information presented. A well-designed site may still offer poor-quality or unreliable information if the content is not authored by credible individuals. Similarly, a fast-loading website with extensive information can still lack authority if the authorship is questionable or not transparent. Therefore, knowing the source of the content is a critical factor in assessing a website's authority.