A score created by an SEO tool (e.g., DA, DR, AS) to summarize selected signals. It is not a Google-issued score.
A third-party authority metric is a score produced by an SEO tool to summarize selected signals. Examples include different providers’ domain-level and page-level measures. The shared word authority does not mean they use the same formula or measure the same thing. Each score belongs to its provider’s data and model.
These metrics can support research by condensing a large amount of information into a comparison point. Their convenience is also a limitation: a single number hides the underlying evidence. It may not tell you whether a particular page answers a question well, whether the audience is relevant or whether a link arrangement follows search-engine policies.
The critical distinction is between a third-party estimate and a search engine’s own systems. Google’s guidance cautions against treating external advice or metrics as authoritative statements about its rankings. A tool can be useful without reproducing Google’s decisions. Evaluate what the score is designed to describe before using it to justify a recommendation.
Takeaway: Ask who calculates a metric, what it measures and what decision it supports. Do not use an authority score as a substitute for actual search, content or business evidence.
Example
A business receives a proposal promising to improve “authority” by a fixed number of points. Before buying, the owner asks which provider’s metric is meant, which work will be performed and how the work helps customers. A score target alone does not explain the value or safety of the proposed campaign.
What to check
Keep different providers’ scores in separately labeled columns. Review the source pages and links behind a result, and report real outcomes separately. If an agency claims a score is a Google requirement, ask for the corresponding official documentation.
For more detail, see Google third-party SEO guidance.