DR Checker Badge: What It Displays and What It Does Not Verify
Learn why verified website badges differ from a Domain Rating badge or website authority badge, and what the DR Checker SVG actually displays, links, caches, and does not certify.
What the DR Checker Badge Is
The DR Checker badge is an embeddable SVG that displays a domain name and its Stored Domain Rating from a DR Checker Domain Listing. The recommended embed links the image to the listing's public item page.
It is a domain-metric badge. It is not a general “verified website” credential.
What the Badge Displays
The public badge endpoint accepts a domain parameter plus optional style and shape choices. The generated SVG can display the domain and stored DR value.
Badge responses are publicly cached for up to one hour, so a new stored value may not appear immediately.
Where the Rating Comes From
The badge reads the latest stored DR on a matching Domain Listing. That value originated from the site's DR Lookup process and represents the most recent successfully stored observation, not a live Ahrefs request every time the badge image loads.
DR Checker is independent of Ahrefs. The badge is not an Ahrefs-issued mark.
Important Empty and Failure Behavior
The current badge endpoint displays zero when:
- No matching Domain Listing is found
- The listing has no Stored Domain Rating
- The database lookup fails
That zero is a display fallback. It must not be interpreted as a confirmed live DR of zero. Open the linked item page or run a fresh DR check for current context.
What the Badge Does Not Verify
The badge does not certify:
- Legal identity or domain ownership
- Security or malware status
- Payment or business legitimacy
- Privacy or compliance
- Content accuracy
- Google ranking status
- Backlink quality
- Ahrefs affiliation
The checkmark graphic is part of the badge design and must not be described as proof of these claims.
Listing and Backlink Context
Free Domain Listing submission requires a specific dofollow backlink containing the DR Checker badge before submission. DR Checker verifies that backlink for Dofollow Eligibility.
That verification proves the required badge link was present at the time of checking. It does not turn the destination site into a generally verified or certified business.
Pending or unpaid Pro listings may still render a DR badge by product decision, so the presence of the image is not proof of payment or publication status.
Recommended Embed
Use the generated image inside a link to the matching item page. Keep descriptive alt text and do not alter the embed to make broader certification claims.
Place it where a visitor is already evaluating domain metrics, such as:
- An SEO metrics or transparency page
- A partner resource page
- A footer section clearly labeled as Domain Rating
- A case study that explains the observation date and source
Avoid placing it beside payment or security claims where the meaning could be misunderstood.
How to Describe It Accurately
Good descriptions:
- “View our Stored Domain Rating on DR Checker”
- “Domain Rating badge linked to our DR Checker listing”
- “Latest DR stored by DR Checker”
Misleading descriptions:
- “Verified safe website”
- “Google-approved domain”
- “Certified business”
- “Official Ahrefs badge”
- “Guaranteed authority”
When Not to Use the Badge
Do not embed it when:
- There is no matching listing or reliable stored observation
- A fallback zero would confuse visitors
- The placement implies security or identity certification
- The item page does not provide useful context
- The badge is being added only to decorate a conversion page
Bottom Line
The DR Checker badge is a compact view of one stored vendor metric with a link back to its Domain Listing. Use it as metric context, not as a general trust certificate.