Domain Rating (DR) is Ahrefs' proprietary metric that shows the relative backlink strength of a website's backlink profile on a scale from 0 to 100.
Domain Rating focuses specifically on backlinks:
- Measures quantity and quality of linking domains
- Higher DR domains pass more "link juice"
- Calculated based on unique linking domains
- Updated frequently as new links are discovered
Key differences from Domain Authority:
- DR focuses more narrowly on backlinks
- Different calculation methodology
- May show different scores for the same site
- Both are useful for competitive analysis
For AI visibility, Domain Rating matters because:
- AI systems use authority signals in recommendations
- High DR sites are more likely to be cited
- DR correlates with content trust
- Building DR often improves AI visibility too
However, DR alone doesn't guarantee AI citations. You also need comprehensive content, topical authority, and proper technical optimization.