Domain Authority
A third-party metric (originated by Moz) that predicts how likely a website is to rank in search results on a scale of 1 to 100. Domain authority is calculated from link signals and is widely used for competitive benchmarking despite not being a Google ranking factor.
Domain authority (DA) and similar metrics like Ahrefs' Domain Rating (DR) provide a useful shorthand for a site's competitive strength in organic search. They aggregate signals like the quantity and quality of backlinks, linking root domains, and other factors into a single comparable score. While Google does not use these third-party metrics directly, the underlying signals they measure (especially backlink quality) strongly correlate with ranking ability.
For growth teams evaluating SEO opportunities, domain authority helps calibrate expectations. Targeting keywords where the top results all have DA 80+ is unrealistic for a DA 30 site in the short term. Use DA as a competitive filter when prioritizing keywords: look for queries where sites with similar or lower authority are ranking, as these represent achievable opportunities. Build domain authority over time through consistent content creation that earns natural backlinks, digital PR, and strategic partnerships. Avoid chasing DA through manipulative link schemes, as Google's spam detection is sophisticated and penalties can devastate organic traffic.
Related Terms
Core Web Vitals
A set of three Google-defined metrics that measure real-world user experience for loading performance, interactivity, and visual stability. Core Web Vitals are a confirmed ranking factor in Google Search.
Largest Contentful Paint (LCP)
A Core Web Vital that measures the time from page load start until the largest visible content element (image, video, or text block) is rendered on screen. Good LCP is 2.5 seconds or less.
Interaction to Next Paint (INP)
A Core Web Vital that measures the latency of all user interactions (clicks, taps, keyboard input) throughout the page lifecycle, reporting the worst interaction. Good INP is 200 milliseconds or less.
Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)
A Core Web Vital that measures the total amount of unexpected layout shifts that occur during a page's entire lifespan. Good CLS is 0.1 or less, where layout shifts are calculated from the impact and distance of moving elements.
Time to First Byte (TTFB)
The duration from the user's request to the first byte of the server response reaching the browser. TTFB measures server-side processing speed and network latency, directly impacting all subsequent loading metrics.
Crawl Budget
The number of pages a search engine bot will crawl on your site within a given timeframe, determined by crawl rate limit and crawl demand. Crawl budget optimization ensures important pages are discovered and indexed efficiently.