Domain authority (DA) ranges 1-100. It measures a website's overall authority. Higher DA means better search ranking potential. A domain has one DA value for the entire site.
Page authority (PA) ranges 1–100 and measures the authority of a single page. Higher PA means better search ranking. PA varies across pages within the same website.
Moz scores DA from 1 to 100 based on popularity, total backlinks, unique linking domains, MozRank, MozTrust, and other factors.
Moz scores PA from 1 to 100 based on indexed data including inbound links, MozRank, MozTrust, and other algorithmic factors.
Not necessarily. High DA/PA correlates with better rankings, but it's not a direct cause. A new site with low DA but highly relevant, quality content can outrank an older high-DA site for specific keywords. DA/PA indicate potential, not a ranking guarantee.
No, they are related. A high-DA domain provides a strong authority base, making it easier for its pages to achieve higher PA. Conversely, multiple high-PA pages on a domain can help boost the overall DA.
DA/PA updates and fluctuations are normal, caused by Moz's periodic algorithm and index refreshes, changes in backlink profiles (gaining or losing high-quality links), and relative shifts compared to competitors. Ignore short-term fluctuations and focus on long-term trends (quarterly or semi-annually). A steady upward trend indicates effective SEO.
Moz generally treats subdomains as relatively independent entities. blog.example.com may have its own DA and PA, separate from example.com. When checking, be clear whether you care about the root domain's overall authority or the ranking ability of pages on a specific subdomain.
