Do you want to make the most of your online presence? Subdomains might be the key to achieving that. In this guide, you’ll find what a subdomain is, the advantages of using it, and the possible drawbacks to consider, along with a subdomain finder, among other things.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, this guide will provide you with everything you need to know about subdomains. Start exploring the power of subdomains for your business today!
What is a subdomain?
A subdomain is a part of a main domain used to identify a specific section of a website. It is placed before the main domain name and separated by a dot. For example, in a domain like “example.com,” “example” would be the subdomain.
Subdomains are used to organize and differentiate different sections or functions of a website, such as blogs, online stores, forums, among others. Each subdomain can have its own content and independent configuration but is still linked to the main domain.
What are they used for?
Subdomains are used to divide and organize the structure of a main domain into more specific sections with differentiated content. Each subdomain is used to direct users to a different website or application related to the main domain.
This allows a company or organization to have different sections or departments on its website, each with its own subdomain. For example, an ecommerce site may have a subdomain for its online store, another for its blog, another for its customer service, etc.
A subdomain is also used to create international versions of a website, where each subdomain is assigned to a specific language or region. For example, es.commondomain.com for Spanish, en.commondomain.com for English, fr.commondomain.com for French, etc.
- Organize your website: Create subdomains for different sections like a blog, online store, or forum.
- Independent sites: Create a completely separate website from the main one.
- Customization: Offer different languages or regional versions on a specific subdomain.
- Testing: Experiment with new features or designs without affecting the main site.
Differences between a domain and a subdomain
Appearance | Domain | Subdomain |
Identification | It is the main part of a web address. | It is a part of the main domain, used to identify a specific section of a website. |
Example | example.com | blog.example.com |
Function | Identifies a website as a whole. | Organizes and differentiates specific sections or functions within the main website. |
Location | It is located at the highest level of the web address hierarchy. | It is placed before the main domain name, separated by a dot.. |
Configuration | It can have multiple subdomains associated with it. | It can have its own content and independent configuration, but is still linked to the main domain. |
Advantages and Disadvantages of Subdomains
The main disadvantage of managing multiple websites under a single domain is the difficulty in separating the web projects managed within that geo-located domain. However, the option of using subdomains is cost-effective and feasible, as it allows for the versatile and straightforward installation and management of thematic websites in WordPress. Here we show both sides of the coin:
Advantages of a Subdomain
- Organization: Subdomains allow for better organization and structuring of a website, especially if it has multiple categories or sections.
- Flexibility: By using a subdomain, it’s possible to allocate different resources or functionalities to each subdomain, allowing for a customized space for each section or department of a website.
- SEO: Subdomains can assist in SEO strategies as they enable directing specific traffic and keywords to each subdomain, potentially resulting in better rankings for each section of the website.
- Security: Subdomains can help mitigate security risks by separating different functional areas and limiting access to certain resources or confidential information.
Disadvantages of a Subdomain
- Technical Complexity: Setting up and maintaining a subdomain can be more complicated than simply using folders or directories on a main domain. It may require additional technical knowledge and effort to implement correctly.
- Content Duplication: If each subdomain is not properly configured or managed, there can be issues with content duplication, which can negatively affect SEO and the visibility of the website.
- User Confusion: Excessive use of subdomains can confuse users and make website navigation challenging. Visitors may get lost or have difficulty finding the section or information they are looking for.
- Additional Costs: Some hosting or domain providers may charge additional fees for each subdomain used, which can increase the costs of maintaining a website with multiple subdomains.
What Multi-Domain SSL Certificate is About
With the help of a subdomain finder, you can easily identify all the subdomains associated with your main domains. This will allow you to include each subdomain you want in your multi-domain SSL certificate, ensuring complete and adequate security for all your online properties.
Thus, you can protect both your main websites and any subdomains linked to them. Thanks to the flexibility of multi-domain SSL certificates, you can simplify the management of security for your domains and subdomains, saving time and effort.
An SSL certificate is ideal when you have multiple websites you want to secure with HTTPS. Instead of acquiring an SSL certificate for each domain, you can obtain a multi-domain SSL certificate that allows you to cover all necessary domains. Some important features of a multi-domain SSL certificate are:
- Versatility. You can protect multiple domains and subdomains with a single SSL certificate.
- Cost savings. A multi-domain SSL certificate is more cost-effective in the long run compared to acquiring individual certificates for each domain.
- Ease of management. You only need to install one SSL certificate on your server to protect all domains included in the certificate.
It’s worth considering that multi-domain SSL certificates can cover different numbers of domains, depending on the provider and the type of certificate. Some certificates can cover up to 100 domains, while others may cover an unlimited number of domains.
Hosting Multiple Domains with Forcedomains
Forcedomains features an integrated subdomain finder. This tool allows you to find a subdomain associated with your main domains all in one place. With this tool, you can conduct comprehensive subdomain searches and obtain precise and up-to-date results.
This functionality is useful if you have many domains and subdomains and need constant tracking of them. Forcedomains provides detailed information about each found subdomain, such as its active or inactive status, creation date, and last update, among other relevant data. You can also apply filters and export the results for deeper analysis.
The platform also offers shared resources, meaning all domains share the same hosting resources, such as storage capacity and bandwidth. This allows for optimizing resource usage and reducing costs.
Forcedomains also offers advanced features such as unlimited email accounts, MySQL databases, support for different programming languages like PHP and Python, and access to detailed traffic statistics for each domain, domain transfer, among others.
Final Conclusion
Ultimately, subdomains are a powerful tool for organizing and distinguishing specific sections of a website, providing flexibility and enhancing user experience. While they offer advantages such as organization and customization, they may also present technical challenges and additional costs.
However, with the assistance of multi-domain SSL certificates and services like Forcedomains, managing security and tracking subdomains becomes simplified, as well as domain renewal and other necessary actions. Start exploring their potential today to optimize your online presence!