What is Domain Authority?
SEO Definition and Examples
Domain Authority is a score from 0 to 100, created by Moz, that estimates how well a domain can rank on Google results pages.
Full Definition: What is Domain Authority
Domain Authority (DA) is a proprietary metric created by Moz — not an official Google ranking factor. The score estimates how likely a domain is to rank well, based on the quantity and quality of the backlinks it receives, the domain age and other signals. Similar scores exist at Ahrefs (Domain Rating / DR) and Semrush (Authority Score). A new site starts at DA 1 and grows as it accumulates quality backlinks. The median for sites ranking in Google's top 10 is DA 37-52, depending on the niche.
Why Does Domain Authority (DA) Matter for SEO?
DA helps you quickly assess whether you can compete for a keyword: if the top 10 results have DA 50+ and you have DA 10, it is hard to break in quickly. It serves as an indicator for choosing keywords you can win now and for tracking your overall progress.
Source: Moz — Domain Authority ExplainedFrequently Asked Questions about Domain Authority (DA)
Related Terms
Backlink
BeginnerA backlink is a hyperlink placed on an external site that points to a page on your site, signalling authority and relevance to Google.
Link Building
IntermediateLink building is the active process of acquiring backlinks from external sites in order to increase your domain's authority and improve your Google ranking.
Page Authority (PA)
AdvancedPage Authority is a Moz score from 0 to 100 that estimates how well an individual page can rank on Google, based on the backlinks pointing to that page.
SERP (Search Engine Results Page)
BeginnerThe SERP is the results page Google shows after a search, including organic results, paid ads, featured snippets, the Local Pack and other special formats.
Put Domain Authority (DA) into practice
Explore how to apply this concept to your industry and city.
