Metric · SEO Glossary

What is Domain Authority?

Domain authority is a third-party score (such as Moz's DA or Ahrefs' Domain Rating) that estimates a site's overall backlink strength relative to other sites. It is not a Google metric.

Also known as: DA · Domain Rating · DR

Why it matters

It is a useful shorthand for comparing sites and tracking backlink growth, though it does not directly determine Google rankings.

Who needs it

Teams benchmarking competitors or measuring the impact of link building over time.

When it's used

Use it as a directional metric during competitor analysis and link campaigns, not as a ranking guarantee.

Need help with Domain Authority?

Our team can put this into practice for your site. Start with a free audit, or explore the link building service.

Last updated: 2026-08-03