Domain Authority
A comparative metric estimating the likelihood of a domain ranking in search results based on link profile and trust signals.
Domain Authority (DA) represents a proprietary scoring system created by Moz to evaluate a website's potential ranking strength in search engine results. This metric operates on a 1-100 scale, where higher values suggest enhanced ranking capabilities across search engine result pages (SERPs). The calculation incorporates various signals including root domain links, total link count, MozRank, MozTrust, and additional proprietary algorithmic factors.
Although DA isn't an official Google ranking signal, it demonstrates strong correlation with actual search performance, making it a valuable benchmark for SEO practitioners when assessing comparative website authority. The metric's relevance has expanded in the era of AI-driven search and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), where artificial intelligence systems frequently evaluate source reliability when selecting content for citations, references, or inclusion in generated responses.
High-authority domains gain competitive advantages in AI-powered environments, as these systems tend to prioritize credible sources when producing content. This creates additional incentives for websites to strengthen their authority signals beyond traditional SEO benefits.
Effective domain authority development demands multi-faceted approaches encompassing strategic content development, authoritative link acquisition, technical optimization, enhanced user experiences, and sustained publication of expert-level materials. For comprehensive authority assessment, DA should be evaluated alongside complementary metrics such as Ahrefs' Domain Rating, niche-specific topical authority, and Google's E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) framework. This holistic approach provides clearer insights into a website's credibility and influence within both conventional search ecosystems and emerging AI-powered information systems.