What Is a Subdomain? The Popular Guide

Posted on by Manoj Sharma

What is domain?

A domain is a unique identifier on the internet that corresponds to a specific website or resource. It typically consists of a name followed by a top-level domain (TLD), such as “.com” or “.org”. For example, in “example.com,” “example” is the domain name. Domains are used to locate and access websites and other online services, providing a human-readable address for internet users to navigate the web.

What is Subdomain?

subdomain

A sub-domain is a subsection of a larger domain, used to organize and navigate within the main domain hierarchy. In website URLs, it appears before the primary domain name, allowing for the categorization of different sections or services. For example, in “blog.example.com,” “blog” is the sub-domain. Sub-domains are commonly employed to separate distinct areas of a website, such as blogs, forums, or specific functionalities, providing a structured approach to managing online content and services.

Understanding URL Structure

Understanding URL structure is crucial for navigating the web and managing online resources effectively. A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is a web address that specifies the location of a resource on the internet. It typically consists of several components:

  1. Scheme: The scheme indicates the protocol used to access the resource, such as “http://” or “https://”. It defines how the browser should communicate with the server.
  2. Domain: The domain identifies the specific website or server hosting the resource. It usually consists of a name followed by a top-level domain (TLD), like “.com” or “.org”.
  3. Subdomain: Optionally, a subdomain may precede the main domain, organizing different sections or services within the website. For example, “blog.example.com”.
  4. Path: The path specifies the location of the resource within the website’s directory structure. It follows the domain and is separated by slashes (“/”).
  5. Query Parameters: Query parameters provide additional information to the server about the resource being requested. They appear after a question mark (“?”) and consist of key-value pairs separated by ampersands (“&”).
  6. Fragment: The fragment identifies a specific section or anchor within the resource, such as a heading or paragraph. It follows a hash symbol (“#”).

Understanding these components allows users to navigate the web efficiently, access specific resources, and communicate effectively with web servers.

Subdomains vs. Subdirectories

Subdomains and subdirectories are both methods used to organize content within a website, but they serve different purposes and have distinct advantages:

  1. Subdomains:
    • Subdomains are essentially separate websites that are part of the main domain but have their own unique web address.
    • They are commonly used to create distinct sections or services within a website, such as “blog.example.com” or “store.example.com”.
    • Subdomains can be useful for branding purposes, creating separate identities for different parts of a website, and for hosting different applications or services on the same domain.
    • They offer more flexibility in terms of hosting and managing different sections of a website independently.
  2. Subdirectories (also known as paths or folders):
    • Subdirectories are directories or folders within the main domain that organize content hierarchically.
    • They are represented by slashes (“/”) in the URL structure and typically follow the main domain, such as “example.com/blog” or “example.com/store”.
    • Subdirectories are often used to categorize content within a website, such as grouping blog posts by topic or organizing products by category.
    • They are simpler to set up and manage compared to subdomains, as they all share the same domain configuration and settings.

Choosing between subdomains and subdirectories depends on factors such as the website’s structure, content organization, and branding strategy. Subdomains offer more flexibility and independence but may require additional setup and management, while subdirectories are simpler and more straightforward to implement within the existing domain structure.

Should You Use a Subdomain or Subdirectory? 

Deciding whether to use a subdomain or a subdirectory depends on various factors, including your website’s structure, content organization, branding strategy, and technical considerations. Here are some considerations to help you make the right choice:

Use Subdomains When:

  1. Distinct Branding: If you want to establish separate branding or identity for different sections of your website, such as a blog or an online store, using subdomains can help create a clear distinction.
  2. Different Content Management Systems (CMS): If you plan to use different CMS platforms or hosting environments for different sections of your website, subdomains allow for more flexibility in managing and deploying them independently.
  3. Geographic Targeting: If you have content or services targeted at specific geographic regions, using country-code subdomains (e.g., “us.example.com” or “uk.example.com”) can help with localization and targeting.
  4. Security Isolation: If you want to isolate certain sections of your website for security reasons, such as hosting user-generated content or experimental features, using subdomains can provide an additional layer of isolation.

Use Subdirectories When:

  1. Unified Branding: If maintaining a consistent brand identity across all sections of your website is important, using subdirectories can help keep everything under one domain.
  2. Unified SEO: Subdirectories can contribute to a unified SEO strategy, as all content is hosted on the same domain, and any SEO benefits gained from one section of the site can potentially benefit the entire site.
  3. Simplified Management: Managing content, settings, and analytics is often simpler with subdirectories, as they all share the same domain configuration and settings.
  4. Simplified URL Structure: Subdirectories can result in a cleaner and more straightforward URL structure, which may be preferred for user experience and memorability.

How to Create a Subdomain


Creating a sub-domain typically involves a few steps, depending on your web hosting provider and domain registrar. Here’s a general guide

  1. Access Your Domain Management Console: Log in to your domain registrar’s website or access the domain management console provided by your web hosting provider. This is where you’ll manage your domain settings.
  2. Navigate to DNS Management: Look for options related to DNS (Domain Name System) management or DNS settings. You may find this under domain management, domain settings, or a similar section.
  3. Create a DNS Record for the Subdomain: Within the DNS management interface, locate the option to add a new DNS record. Select “A” (IPv4 address) or “CNAME” (Canonical Name) record type, depending on your needs:
    • If you want to point the sub-domain to a specific IP address, choose “A” record and enter the IP address.
    • If you want the sub-domain to point to another domain or hostname, choose “CNAME” record and enter the target domain or hostname.
  4. Specify the Subdomain Name: When creating the DNS record, specify the name of your sub-domain (e.g., “blog” for “blog.example.com”).
  5. Save the Changes: After entering the required information, save the DNS record. The changes may take some time to propagate across the internet’s DNS servers, so be patient.
  6. Configure Hosting for the Subdomain: If you intend to host content or services on the sub-domain, you’ll need to set up hosting for it. This typically involves creating a separate directory or configuring virtual hosts on your web server to handle requests for the sub-domain.
  7. Test the Sub-domain: Once the DNS changes have propagated and hosting is configured, you can test the subdomain by entering its URL (e.g., “http://subdomain.example.com“) into your web browser.