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difference between sub-domains and sub-directories

by anderson9731
5 replies
  • SEO
    • |
Can any body please tell me the differences in sub-domains and sub-directories in details with examples.

Thanks in advance.
#difference #subdirectories #subdomains
  • Profile picture of the author David Bleidt
    Hey

    sub-domain: This is like a full new domain. It is a new Website with its own sub-directories. Your Main-Domain will not have any influence on your sub-domain.

    sub-directory: This is a part of your Main Website. A Website consists of a number of Webpages. sub-directories are the navigation points you can see at all the websites out there.

    Examples:
    Main-Domain: www()maindomain()com
    Sub-Domain: subdomain()maindomain()com
    Sub-Directory: www()maindomain()com/subdirectory

    I hope you can follow me

    David
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  • Profile picture of the author manishrawat
    Main Domain: http://www(.)XYZ(.)com
    Sub Domain:http://sub(.)XYZ(.)com
    Sub Directory: Directory within main domain i.e. http://www(.)XYZ(.)com/sub-directory

    I guess by now you would have actually understood the difference b/w Domain/Sub-Domain and sub directory.

    Purpose:

    The purpose and use of a sub domain and a sub directory can be same. The only difference is a subdomain is treated as a completely fresh website, without any connection with the main site . And a sub-directory is considered as a part of the main website(domain).
    The structure could have some effect over the SEO of a sub domain and a sub directory.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gene Pimentel
    Originally Posted by David Bleidt View Post

    Examples:
    Main-Domain: www()maindomain()com
    Sub-Domain: www()subdomain.maindomain()com
    Sub-Directory: www()maindomain()com/subdirectory

    I hope you can follow me

    David

    Hold on... before someone gets confused - there is NO "www" in the prefix of a sub-domain. In fact, the "www" is the sub-domain itself. When you create a sub-domain, the word you use replaces the www.

    Right: subdomain.maindomain.com
    Wrong: www.subdomain.maindomain.com
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    • Profile picture of the author paulgl
      Yes, www is a subdomain, but is normally done by all hosts automatically and
      is not thought of a subdomain in the true sense of the word. Just looked on as
      a normal way the web works.

      The difference between folders and subdomains is very, very clear.

      A subdomain is for a completely different aspect of your site with a whole
      other subject.

      Like a forum. You would want forum.domain.com
      Or email. Like email.domain.com

      It is not for just another sub-category for your website. That would be
      a folder.

      Baseballcards/1950s/star players.

      If you did starplayers.domain.com, it would look like a complete site
      on just star players. Whereas starplayers looks like a niche of your baseball cards.

      You want folders. It allows you to gather in long tail searches.

      The subdomain is actually looked upon as a complete, different, separate
      domain.

      But since www goes to the same site as non, it is not a tragedy. Just build
      all links to one or the other, or 301 redirect. But it is really not that important
      in the long scheme of things.

      Paul
      Signature

      If you were disappointed in your results today, lower your standards tomorrow.

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    • Profile picture of the author David Bleidt
      Originally Posted by Gene Pimentel View Post

      Hold on... before someone gets confused - there is NO "www" in the prefix of a sub-domain. In fact, the "www" is the sub-domain itself. When you create a sub-domain, the word you use replaces the www.

      Right: subdomain.maindomain.com
      Wrong: www.subdomain.maindomain.com
      oh yea ^^ don't know why I did put the www infront of the subdomain ^^.
      I corrected it.

      David
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