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What Is Domain Authority (DA)?
Updated 18 September 2026
Quick Answer
Domain Authority (DA) is a third-party score (from Moz) estimating how likely a website is to rank in search results, based largely on the quality and quantity of backlinks — not an official Google metric.
Domain Authority vs. Ranking — What's the Difference?
| Domain Authority | Ranking | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A third-party estimate of overall site authority | Actual position in search results for a specific search |
Why It Matters
- It's a useful directional comparison tool (is this site more authoritative than that one), but shouldn't be treated as a precise or official Google ranking signal.
- It's commonly referenced when evaluating potential backlink or directory listing sources — a higher-DA site linking to you generally carries more weight.
How It Works
- A third-party tool (Moz) analyzes a site's backlink profile and other factors.
- It generates a score (typically 1-100) as a relative estimate of overall authority.
- This score is used directionally to compare sites, not as a guaranteed ranking predictor.
Key Takeaways
- Domain Authority is a third-party estimate of site authority, not an official Google metric.
- It's useful for directional comparison, not as a precise ranking predictor.
- It's commonly referenced when evaluating potential backlink sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Domain Authority an official Google ranking factor?
No — it's a third-party metric from Moz, not something Google itself uses or publishes.
How can I check my Domain Authority?
Free tools (including Moz's own) let you check any site's DA score.
Should I obsess over improving my DA score?
Not directly — focus on genuine SEO fundamentals (content quality, technical health, real backlinks); DA tends to rise as a byproduct of those efforts.