Domain vs Subdomain: A Complete Guide

Domains and subdomains enable people to find your content online, but you’ll use them in different scenarios. As a beginner though, you may not be familiar with these technical terms or know when to use them. 

There are some key differences between domains vs subdomains. For example, the domain forms the main part of your web address whereas subdomains are subsections within it. Plus, they have different structures and purposes.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at domains and subdomains. Then, we’ll discuss the key differences between them, and show you when to use them. Let’s get to it!

What Is a Domain?

Every website has a primary domain name (or web address) which is how visitors find your content online. Meanwhile, web servers use IP addresses to serve the right website when called upon. But, IP addresses are made up of long strings of numbers which are difficult for humans to remember.

To spare internet users the headache of remembering IP addresses, the Domain Name System (DNS) maps them to more user-friendly domain names. So, when you look to the address bar at the top of your browser, you can see the root domain for the website:

The domain will be preceeded by “www” which stands for world wide web. And, it will end with a domain extension like .com or .org. So, our domain is “www.namehero.com”.

Here, are some other notable domains that you’re probably familiar with:

• Google.com
• Facebook.com
• WordPress.org
• Youtube.com
• Wikipedia.org

This main domain can also be referred to as a root domain since all subdomains are branches of your primary domain.

What Is a Subdomain?

As we mentioned above, a subdomain is a branch of your main website and usually has some degree of separation from your core content. You can also think of subdomains as child domains of the larger parent domain.

Subdomains can organize and structure your content more clearly, which provides easy navigation for visitors. Plus, subdomains can also help search engines better comprehend your website.

Most website owners use a subdomain when they want to create specific types of content that aren’t relevant to the core site. A subdomain presents an easy way to do this without setting up a whole new website.

For example, if you want to sell products in a section of your website, you may use the subdomain “store.yourdomain.com”. Or, lots of companies host blogs on a separate domain like HubSpot:

However, there are plenty of other use cases for subdomains.

For instance, if you create a staging site to test new tools or run updates, you’ll usually access this using a subdomain that looks like “staging.yourdomain.com”. What’s more, very large websites set up subdomains for different locations, or use a subdomain for the mobile version of the site.

Domain vs. Subdomain: 6 Key Differences

Now you know a bit more about each type of domain. So, let’s take a look at some key differences between a domain vs subdomain:

• Structure. Your root domain will consist of the domain name plus the domain extension so it will look like “yourdomain.com”. But, a subdomain will contain an extra part to indicate the content it represents. So, it may look like “blog.yourdomain.com” or “yourdomain.com/blog”.
• Purpose. You’ll need a domain for your primary website. But, you can set up a new subdomain for specific purposes like a company blog, ecommerce store, or customer support pages.
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Subdomains are treated as new domains from an SEO perspective. But, they can benefit from the domain authority of the main domain. Plus, you can link between both domains to boost search engine rankings.
• Branding. The main domain acts as the face of your website and is often immediately recognizable to visitors. The subdomain serves a specific purpose, but there are cases where subdomains are still widely recognized (especially location-specific subdomains).
• Tracking. You can track your root domain to get insights about website performance and traffic. However, you may need to set up separate analytics for each new subdomain.
• Security. To keep data secure on websites, you can install an SSL certificate. But, usually, you’ll need a separate SSL certificate for each subdomain of your main site (unless you use a wildcard certificate).

It’s important to note that certain factors like domain tracking and SSL certificates may differ based on your web host and analytics software.

When to Use Domains and Subdomains

Every website requires a domain name so that servers are able to display your content when a user requests the page. Domains are also an important part of branding.

Plus, they provide a quick way to establish credibility and trust with visitors (especially if you use recognizable extensions like .com or .net). Additionally, you can implement keywords within your domain name to gain visibility in the search results and drive more traffic to your pages.

However, if you need a new section for your website (and landing pages won’t suffice), you can create a subdomain. This is much easier than creating a separate website.

There are plenty of scenarios when it makes sense to set up a unique URL that will sit within your main address. Here are some use cases for subdomains:

• You want to create a blog for your business website.
• You want to add a forum for your online community.
• You want to set up a resource center or create a dedicated customer support portal.
• You want to set up an online store to sell products or services.
• You want to redesign your website in a private staging area.
• You want to a clear distinction between your main website and mobile website.
• You want to target specific keywords with your subdomain.
• You have a very large website and would benefit from different subdomains for different locations.

In general, it makes sense to create subdomains when you want to add different sections to your website (that you don’t want to include within your main site).

How to Find Domains and Subdomains

You can only set up a second level domain once you’ve already secured the root domain for your site. There are various ways to find domain names, but it’s easiest to use a domain registrar like NameHero.

This way, you can use the free domain search tool to check if your desired domain is available (and see how much it costs):

Better yet, you can search for domains according to specific categories like business, technology, and sports. And, you can purchase domain protection.

Alternatively, if you’re just starting out, it can be a good idea to choose a web hosting provider that includes a free domain with the hosting plan. Most of NameHero’s hosting packages come with free domains. Plus, you can even get a free SSL certificate, a free business email, and auto-installations.

Once you have your domain name, you can expand it using subdomains. To create subdomains, you’ll need to use the service that manages your domain’s DNS settings. This is usually your web host or domain registrar.

For example, with NameHero, you can log into your hosting account and access the cPanel dashboard. Then, you’ll find a dedicated subdomains section where you can choose a name, select the domain, and define the Document Root folder. For full details, check out NameHero’s documentation on how to setup a subdomain.

Conclusion

While both are an important part of your web address, it’s important to be aware of the distinction between domains vs subdomains. The domain is the principal part of your website address that represents your core brand and content.

Meanwhile, subdomains act as subsections of your root domain. For example, you might use a subdomain for your company blog, forum, or support pages. As such, they usually serve a specific purpose but still benefit from the SEO authority of the main domain name.

Do you have any questions about when to use a domain vs subdomain? Let us know in the comments section below!