> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.fetchhive.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Referring Domains

> Configure a workflow step that lists the sites linking to a domain or page

Use **Referring Domains** when you want to know which sites link to a domain, subdomain, or page. Each referring domain comes with its rank, how many backlinks it sends, and a spam score. A typical use is link-building research, or checking who links to a competitor, then looping over the domains in a later step.

## Configuration

| Option | Required | Description |
| - | - | - |
| Name | No | Label for the step in the workflow canvas. |
| Target | Yes | A domain or subdomain without `https://` or `www.`, or a full page URL starting with `https://`. This field supports workflow variables through **Insert Variable**. |
| Link status | No | **Live** counts links found on the last check. **Lost** counts links that were removed. **All** counts both. Defaults to **Live**. |
| Domain limit | No | How many referring domains to return, from 1 to 1000. Defaults to 25. |
| Offset | No | How many domains to skip, from 0 to 20000. Defaults to 0. |
| Include subdomains | No | When on, subdomains of the target are included. On by default. |
| Include indirect links | No | When on, indirect links are included. On by default. |
| Exclude internal backlinks | No | When on, links from the target's own subdomains are left out. On by default. |
| Rank scale | No | **0–1000** or **0–100**. Defaults to **0–1000**. |
| Breakdown list limit | No | How many entries to keep in each per-domain breakdown, such as top-level domains, link types, attributes, platforms, and page locations. From 1 to 1000. Defaults to 10. |
| Sort | No | Up to 3 sort rules. Defaults to backlinks, highest first, so the first domains are the strongest linkers. |
| Domain filters | No | Up to 8 filters on domain fields, such as domain, rank, or spam score, joined by **AND** or **OR**. |
| Backlink filters | No | Up to 8 filters that choose which links are counted, using the same fields as **Backlinks Search**. |
| When the step fails | No | Controls whether the workflow should **Terminate Workflow** or **Continue** if this step fails. |

Add this step from the **Research** group in **Search steps...**.

A value with no scheme, such as `example.com`, is sent as a domain. `www.` is removed. A URL with a real path, such as `https://example.com/blog/post`, is sent as a page. `https://example.com/` is treated as the domain `example.com`. A path without `https://`, such as `example.com/blog`, is rejected.

## Output

Click **Run** in the step header to test the step. Fetch Hive shows the domain list in **Output** after the run completes.

Use the variable picker in a later step to insert the exact output path available for that run. The list of referring domains is:

```text theme={null}
{{step_2.output.items}}
```

Each item includes `domain`, `rank`, `backlinks`, `referring_pages`, `backlinks_spam_score`, `first_seen`, and `lost_date`, plus breakdowns such as `referring_links_tld` and `referring_links_countries`. The object also includes `target`, `total_count`, and `items_count`.

Inside an iteration over `{{step_2.output.items}}`, the referring domain is:

```text theme={null}
{{item.domain}}
```

There is no `results` or `domains` list, and the domain is not `url` or `referring_domain`. Use **Backlinks Summary** when you need one profile for the whole site, or **Backlinks Search** when you need the individual links.

## Example

Add **Referring Domains** from the **Research** group in **Search steps...**.

Set **Name** to something like `Who links to us`.

Enter `example.com` in **Target**, or insert a variable that resolves to a domain. Leave **Sort** on backlinks, highest first, then click **Run** and review **Output** before looping over `items` in a later step.

## Cost

Hosted runs convert the recorded service cost plus a 6% service fee into task credits. The provider charge grows with the number of domains returned. See [Task costs](https://docs.fetchhive.com/resources/task-costs.md).

## Notes

* If the provider rejects the target or a filter, the step fails and the error message is the provider's message. **When the step fails** then decides whether the workflow stops or continues.
* Personal model keys are not used. This step always runs as a hosted provider call.


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