What is a subdomain? Before we proceed with the article and learn more about it, let us clearly understand the meaning of domain.
In simple words, a domain is a name or a unique address for the website that helps users find your page on the internet. It is equivalent to a physical address of the business.
So, what does subdomain mean? It basically means a prefix added to the website to separate a specific section or content of the site. When organising a website’s content, it’s common practice to create several directories or locations for different kinds of content or information to be shown under each subdomain.
What are the significant differences between domain and subdomain? Let us understand this further with the help of some examples.
Table of Contents
What Is A Domain?
As previously explained, a domain is the address of a website in the digital world. They are user-friendly and easy to remember. Specifically, there can be confusion between the URL and domain name. For instance, https://example.com/page is the web address of your business. So, example.com is the domain name, while https is the protocol. So, a domain is divided into various parts. The most specific data is found on the left, while the more general information is located on the right in a hierarchical organisation of domains. Top-level domains (TLDs) come after the last dot in a web address and can be either general (.com,.org,.net) or country-specific (.us,.uk,.in).
What Is A Subdomain?
To distinguish a particular section of your website, you may use a subdomain, a prefix attached to the domain name. To better manage content and grow your business, you can create subdomains as an extension of your primary domain. You may use it to build anything from a blog to an online store. Subdomains are an extension of the primary domain that helps to classify and arrange data.
As an illustration, consider the “blog” part of “blog.example.com.” In this case, “blog” is a subdomain of “example.com.” So, now, with this illustration, it is easy to understand what is domain and subdomain with examples.
How Many Subdomains Can A Domain Have?
A domain can theoretically have an infinite number of subdomains. In most cases, the site server or domain registrar will impose this restriction. People and companies often use subdomains to organise their data and content better. But, overall, 500 subdomains are allowed under each domain. For single-level subdomains, that limit is 255 characters; for multi-level subdomains, it’s 63 characters per level.
Understanding The Differences Between Domain And Subdomain
The primary distinction between a domain and a subdomain is the organisational structure and hierarchical placement of each inside the DNS.
In its most basic form, a domain is the foundation upon which a website rests and is necessary for its establishment. However, a subdomain is a set of distinct URLs that function in conjunction with the main domain. Instead of a subdirectory, a subdomain is effectively its website, making it ideal for creating information silos catering to certain demographics.
What Are The Benefits Of Subdomains?
Let us now see the benefits of subdomains which will improve the performance of the website, its SEO, and the business:
The website Will Be Organised
Maintaining order on your websites is crucial if you want visitors to locate what they’re seeking quickly and easily. If your website has several different pages, you may want to create a subdomain to access each topic independently. This not only helps visitors find what they’re looking for on your site more efficiently, but it also helps you maintain a consistent site map throughout the various sections of your site.
Treated Like An Independent Website
Subdomains, being basically little websites in their own right, are crawled by search engine bots like any other website would be. This implies that it is beneficial if certain pages on your website score highly in searches for related subjects or keywords, not just your company’s name.
Diverse To Other Geographical Locations
You can leverage the power of the internet and create a subdomain for targeting a specific audience for each location you wish to target, especially if you are a small business owner. Visitors may get the particular information they’re seeking without navigating through any of your other sites, and you can direct local traffic to your store with hyperlocal advertising.
How To Create A Subdomain?
Following are the steps that you can use in creating a subdomain:
- Get on the Domains page. Enter your domain registrar or web host’s login details, then go over to the domain management area.
- Select “connect a subdomain” from the screen’s footer.
- Select the primary domain you work with and type in the new subdomain’s name.
- Configure the subdomain settings
- As soon as you verify the subdomain’s creation, you’ll be able to use it.
Conclusion
Understanding the importance of what is a subdomain is crucial for maintaining an online presence in the digital world. You may improve your website’s performance and provide a more consistent experience for visitors by using subdomains. Have fun venturing out into the wide virtual world!
