--- language: en title: "Domain authority" description: "Domain authority is a vendor estimate for comparing websites. Moz’s Domain Authority is not a Google factor or a guarantee of citation by AI." canonical: "https://tropk.ai/en/resources/glossary/domain-authority" last_modified: "2026-10-12T16:09:44.165Z" --- # Domain authority Reviewed on 2026-10-07. ## What it means Domain authority is a term used for vendor estimates of a domain’s comparative strength in search. Moz’s Domain Authority is one such metric, scored from 1 to 100 and calculated based on its index and model. The result is relative to other websites; it is not a certification of the factual quality of each page. ## Why it matters for marketing For marketing, the score can help screen domains or compare similar competitors. Moz states that its metric is not a Google ranking factor. Therefore, using the value as the sole criterion for a partnership or priority could overlook audience, context, and evidence in the material. A high score does not guarantee that an assistant will recommend or cite a brand. ## Example in practice Imagine an agency evaluating two magazines to promote an accessibility study. The first has a higher domain score but does not reach the intended audience; the second covers inclusive transportation. The team keeps the metric as comparative information and examines both magazines’ audiences, coverage, and editorial quality instead of choosing solely based on the number assigned to the domain. ## How to apply or verify Identify the vendor, exact metric name, scale, date, and domain consulted. Compare values produced using the same method, and investigate changes to the index or calculation before concluding that the website has changed. Use the score alongside information relevant to the decision, such as editorial alignment and verifiable references. Do not mix indicators from different vendors as if they used the same yardstick. ## Important distinctions A domain metric is not equivalent to a person’s authority, the reliability of a claim, or a page’s ranking. A domain and a URL are different units. The absence of documentation on a system’s use of the score does not justify claims about how that AI system works internally. Treat the indicator as an external estimate, with its stated purpose, scope, and limitations. ## Sources and references - [Domain Authority: What is it and how is it calculated]() — Moz ## Continue a leitura - [Borrowed authority]() - [E-E-A-T]() - [Relationship between rankings and citations]() ## About the author [Luiz Gardelin]() Luiz Gardelin is the founder of Tropk.ai and works in GEO/AEO, product vision, strategy, and growth, helping brands understand and improve their presence in AI responses. --- [All pages in Markdown]()