Does google know that 2 websites are using the same template/wordpress theme? -

Does google know that 2 websites are using the same template/wordpress theme? -

i wondering if google know 2 websites utilize same template (wordpress theme in case) , how.

does index html construction , compares other sites, css classes, attributes ?

google can see theme using crawling styles.css file included theme.

google doesn't penalize using same theme on multiple sites. care content, backlinks, , other traditional factors used in ranking.

one exception rule if theme found violate rules or guidelines penalize using theme. examples of theme used artificially inflate adsense clicks, squeeze visitors hard bring together newsletter, or auto-scrape content name few.

changing name in css file won't help google pretty sophisticated @ looking @ website's footprint, require doing html , css name changes. best avoid using theme can in problem them.

using normal (free or premium) theme not need worry in relation google carrying it.

wordpress wordpress-theming