If houses have addresses, a website also has one and it is called a domain. It is where people go to if they want to visit a website, just like how people go to another person’s address to visit them.

Just like a house, you need to officially register it with the government, and to make a website you need to register your domain too.  When we register a domain name, providers typically provides free sub-domains. To better understand what sub-domains are it is better if we dissect what makes up a domain.

What are Sub-domains?

When making a website we all know we need to register a domain name. This is what we type when we want to go to a website. And the whole address we type in our browsers are composed of three basic parts. The whole address is called a domain.

For example, www.facebook.com, and this is made up three parts. First, is what we call a top level domain or TLD. This is what comes after the last dot “.” and why it is sometimes called domain extensions. It is usually .com, .net & .org.

The second part is what we call the second level domain or SLD. This is the unique part of the domain and is usually the name of the business or website. In our example, “facebook” is the second level domain in the domain name.

The last part of a domain is what we call the sub-domain. It is the letters or a word that come before the first dot.

In our example, it is “www” but a webpage owner can change it to what one wants and needs.

Sub-domains are a sub-set of a main domain name. 

A website owner can change the subdomain to make a new webpage that is connected to the main website without having to register a new one. 

Sub-domains are basically an extension of the main website.

For example, in the age of smart phones, we see a lot of websites that have a subdomain that  is “m” which is used for webpages that is for mobile phones since they have a smaller screen than desktops or laptops thus has a different design.

What are the differences of a Domain and Sub-domain?

The difference of a domain and a sub-domain is that they are both different webpages and have a different web address. However, there can be no sub-domain if there is no domain since it is only an extension of the main domain.

While a domain can stand without a sub-domain.

Just like in a company, a marketing department or the accounting department is an extension of a company.

Thus, without the company, there would be no marketing department, while a company can still stand even without having a marketing department.

Benefits of having a sub-domains

Sub-domains are used to divide a domain name into sections or separate areas.

To better understand, it is like how a company is made up of different departments and each department has a different purpose or use. Even if they are different, they are still connected to one company.

When you make an accounting department or a marketing department, you do not have to register it or get a business permit for it since it is under the already registered company.

This is the same with websites, you can make separate webpages with the subdomains while still connected to the main domain name.

Webpage owners use sub-domains for different purposes for their website. Others use it to make a different webpage that is the same witht the main domain but is in a different language. For example they will use “esp” for a webpage translated to Spanish or “CHN” for a Chinese webpage.

They also use it to distinguish between the different services. One can use the sub-domain to make a webpage for customer service and put “help” or for a blog about their business and put “blog” as their sub-domain.

In fact, google has numerous sub-domains for their different services and needs.

No Need to Register Another Site

There are many uses for sub-domains but one of the main benefits one can get is the webpage owner do not need to register the website. It is like making a new website without the hassle of registering.

Another is since search engines see these sub-domains as different and individual websites, there will be more chances for owners to increase their traffic.

SEO Benefits of Subdomains

Having a sub-domain can increase a webpage owner’s search rank too since subdomains point back to the main domain.

This also means owners can focus on different audiences and markets while still connected to the main domain or website.

Developers often use subdomains to test new changes or new versions of a website. They use these to test their new designs before place it on their main websites.

Web owners also use a subdomain for their ecommerce or where they sell their products as it needs a different more complex design.

To get a better picture of sub-domains, imagine you are a business owner of a bar that is known for their own beers and unique talented bartenders.

It becomes big enough that you want to make a website. When you make one, the main domain is used for information about the bar and where people can make reservations.

Then you want to make another website where people can place orders for your beers and where people can rent your bartenders for a night.

Since you do not want to register a new one, you make a different website with only a different sub-domain with the main webpage.

This way it is easier to organize the work and functions.

What are sub-domains sum up

To summarize, Sub-domains are basically just extensions or sub-set of a domain. They have multiple uses for a webpage owner and can be set depending on one’s needs.

It is basically making a new website without having to register a new one. People will still know about the main website since the second level domain name will still be in the new website address.

They are made so as not to cramp everything in one website, which will make it more confusing and less-user-friendly for their visitors. 

Like how different departments of a company works, they are there to lessen the work of the main website