When you're looking for a name for your domain, you'll go through numerous terms. When you're just getting started, dealing with all of this might cause the occurrence of some intimidation. For the majority of people, the process of getting a website online begins with selecting a domain name.
In the following article, you will understand the distinctions between a domain and a subdomain so you can decide which option is the best for your future web projects. Subdomains and domains are related on the web, even though they serve different purposes.
Defining subdomains
Subdomains are names that you can use in addition to your primary domain. A subdomain is essentially a different section of your site that functions under the same main domain name.
One of the requirements for the creation of a subdomain is a primary domain name. There is no method to create a subdomain to a domain that does not have a primary domain name.
For instance, when you use Coolicehost, you always use a subdomain such as blog.coolicehost.com or billing.coolicehos.com. You will be instantly sent to the subdomain associated with your actual location.
Alternatively, your primary domain may be "mydomain.com," with the addition of a subdomain such as "blog.mydomain.com."
Subdomains allow you to create a new site under the same domain name. Furthermore, for each domain you hold, you can usually execute the establishment of an unlimited number of subdomains, depending if your plan allows it.
There are several circumstances when adopting a subdomain is a sensible decision to make, as you'll see below.
What is a Domain?
A domain name is required to have a site that exists on the internet. Visitors cannot reach your website unless you have a domain name!
Before the invention of domain names, you had to manually type in a site's IP address to visit it. Domain names are used to replace the complicated series of numbers regarded as an IP address. So, rather than entering a string of numbers such as 152.67.80.54, you enter coolicehost.com into the search engine of your browser.
That simplifies things and makes the internet much more user-friendly.
When looking for a suitable domain name, you must not only think of the appropriate one, but you must also pick a domain extension.
That's the part of a domain that ends in ".net," ".org," or ".com." The selected extension of your domain name will impact how your users perceive your domain, so make an informed decision.
When to use a Subdomain?
There are numerous reasons for the usage of subdomains. However, the following are the most prevalent scenarios in which using a subdomain is sensible:
1. Creating a Site Resource or Support Page
A subdomain may be handy if your site needs substantial support, a tutorial area, or documentation.
When you are trying to develop and structure a large amount of content, you'll need to consider its organization so that your visitors access and absorb it with ease.
Google, for example, has a distinct support department that uses a subdomain.
Other sorts of sites may include a distinct knowledge base, a tutorial area, or any other element of your website that necessitates considerable content management in addition to a standard blog.
2. Hosting a Company Blog
Sometimes website owners might prefer to draw a line between their company blog and the rest of their website. Typically, people do this when the primary website lacks the necessary tools or software to administer a blog efficiently.
For instance, perhaps your primary website is designed to entice consumers to install an application. However, you wish to establish a company blog for the sake of content marketing. The only problem is that you don't want to revamp your website using a new framework.
The usage of subdomains makes sense in this scenario. Firstly, create the subdomain "blog.mysite.com," then you can download a CMS such as WordPress on it. Then, your main objective should be to mimic your present design as best possible.
That is a standard method taken by many startups. Because the blog isn't the fundamental focus of their business, they treat it as a separate organization.
We may also look at the CooliceHost's Blog as an example. The main website is on the main domain, while the web app itself is on a subdomain. Visiting the website will lead to you seeing the following homepage:
And here's what the backend looks like when you're logged in to the actual web app. Take note of the domain change at the top:
3. Creating an eCommerce Store
To ensure the protection of financial information, eCommerce stores must implement more stringent security requirements and protocols. That may necessitate the installation of special software or the update of your SSL certificate.
You may not need this for the rest of your website, so you may want to host your eCommerce website on a subdomain, such as "store.mydomain.com" or "shop.mydomain.com."
By putting the hosting of your eCommerce shop on a subdomain, you also have the option of designing a high-converting storefront. You'll have an online store that's developed from the ground up to increase the number of sales if you can choose an eCommerce-specific theme rather than attempting to cobble together an acceptable design from your original website.
4. Redesigning Your Website
The ability to see an active version of the site might come in handy while you're redesigning it. You can accomplish this by creating a subdomain that enables you to create a new website from the ground up.
You can insert images, videos, links, and other media and see how your site operates in real-time.
You can also move some of the traffic to your subdomain to see in what way visitors respond to your new website. Gaining real-time consumer feedback is of great value when it comes to avoiding the release of a new website that does not meet their wants and expectations.
Once you're ready to go live with your new website, simply point it to your primary domain.
You may even password guard the subdomain you are using to revamp your site so that your users don't mistakenly view your incomplete site.
5. Testing New Products/Features
Is there a new market you wish to enter, a new product you would like to try, or a fresh idea for your website that you desire but want to validate first?
The reason does not matter a subdomain enables you to perform all of the above and more.
With the creation of a new subdomain, you are essentially starting over. You now have a completely new site to operate with without the effort of registering a new domain.
You can now build a mini-site to try your new ideas. Then, if everything goes well, you may incorporate this component into your existing website. A subdomain allows you to be innovative without jeopardizing the present user experience.
How to Create a Subdomain?
Now that you understand how to utilize a subdomain, let's put it to use on your website! On shared baby plans and upwards, HostGator users get unlimited domains. It only requires just a few steps to make your own.
- Login to your cPanel
- Click on Subdomains
- Create a Subdomain
Now, it's time to start working on your subdomain. Please choose the domain to which you wish to add a subdomain, input your subdomain name, and click "Create." After completing this step, the creation of a new subdomain will be complete!
What else should you know about domains…
Subdomain vs. Subfolder
Another important distinction to make regarding subdomains is the distinction between a subfolder and a subdomain.
A subdomain is something you've probably heard of by now subfolder, though, is a little different. A subfolder is a folder that is added to an existing domain.
So, rather than establishing a new subdomain for your blog, such as "blog.mysite.com," you'll be using a subfolder, like "mysite.com/blog."
Here at CooliceHost, for instance, you can visit the blog by going to "blog.coolicehost.com", not "https://www.coolicehost.com/blog,"
When considering the usage of a subdomain, think of it as making a different website. Although subdomains are extensions of an existent domain name, they need more effort to create, manage, and maintain. If you are looking for a convenient way of managing your website, subfolders are an excellent choice. Consider them similar to creating categories for your blog and its content. If you run a sports website, you may organize it into subfolders dividing the sports you feature. As a result, you'd end up with URLs similar to "sports.com/basketball," "sports.com/football," "sports.com/hockey," etc. Every page may function as its sports-specific blog, for each page including unique articles about that sport.
Domains, Subdomains, and URL Structure
With you knowing more about domains and subdomains, let's look at how they interact.
When you're designing your website, you should consider your URL structure. With the incorrect URL structure, you will put your site in a bit of trouble when it comes to ranking in search engines and making it much harder for your readers to browse.
As an example, suppose you wish to establish a new blog. Regarding your domain name, you will have three possibilities.
- Create an entirely new website: mynewblog.com
- Use a subdomain: blog.mywebsite.com
- Use a subfolder: mywebsite.com/blog
If you choose the first alternative, you will have to set up a new domain name and create a whole new site from scratch. If you're starting a blog as part of your current site, it's usually not a good idea to use a whole new domain.
So we're left with possibilities two and three. We'll either utilize a subdomain or a subfolder to host our blog.
We'll have much more capability to customize the appearance of the blog, choose a new CMS, and so on by using a subdomain. We'll construct a new site leveraging the trust of the primary domain.
The third solution is to create a subdirectory. A folder improves the organization of your site and lets users navigate through it more easily. That will help convey more confidence from your primary domain to your secondary domain in terms of search engine optimization (SEO).
Essentially, the technique you adopt will be determined by your objectives and why you are considering the creation of a subdomain.
In Closing: How Domains and Subdomains Work Together
As you can see, there are a lot of moving parts in the domain name ecology. Making sure you understand how everything comes together will take time, but it will offer you an advantage over your competitors. By now, you should have a better knowledge of subdomains and domain names and the scenarios in which you will utilize each one of them.
To simplify things, if you wish to construct an internet-accessible site, you'll need a domain name. Subdomains are domain name extensions used for a site redesign, organization, or even hosting your blog or eCommerce business.
When choosing a suitable domain name, do your homework because a good domain name is a component of great value for your eCommerce site. When you have decided on the perfect one, check to see if it is available before hosted at CooliceHost.
