An extra benefit for domain owners is the ability to create subdomains. What are these sub-sites, how do you create them, and what can they be used for? That is what we will cover below.
What is a subdomain?
By definition, a subdomain is a 3rd-, 4th- (and so on) level domain formed by adding subdomain names, separated by dots, in front of the resource's main name. For example, subdomen.master-server.pro would be a subdomain of the company's main site master-server.pro. While being a fully independent website, a subdomain keeps its connection with the main resource. It can host a forum, an online store, or a kind of experimental sandbox where you can try out a different design, concept or even engine.
There are two main advantages to using subdomains:
- Extra SEO optimization opportunities. Splitting thematic sections off as subdomains gives the site the structure it needs and also better shields the main resource from search engine filters.
- Easier technical maintenance. A subdomain reduces the load on the main resource, lowers the risk of compromise during hacker attacks, and adds the ability to test different versions of the site.
How do you create a sub-site?
A new subdomain can be generated quickly in your hosting control panel. Depending on the interface, this is done via the «add subdomain» or «site management» tab. If you run into trouble generating a new subdomain, you can always turn to your hosting provider's technical support for help.
How many subdomains can a site have?
The number of subdomains you can use is practically unlimited. Beyond a regular sub-site of the form subdomen.master-server.pro, you can add further resources such as forum.subdomen.master-server.pro and so on. The technical limits on the number of possible subdomains (nesting) are as follows:
- The maximum nesting depth of sub-sites can reach 127;
- The name of any subdomain cannot exceed 63 characters;
- The full domain name cannot be longer than 255 characters.
Keep in mind as well that getting carried away with creating sub-sites can significantly affect the main resource's positions in search engines.
Do you need to register and pay for a subdomain?
Subdomains do not require separate registration. You only need to add information about their location to the DNS database and set up delegation of your 3rd-level domains so they resolve correctly. Whether you pay for each sub-site depends on your hosting provider's pricing plan. If the pricing treats each subdomain as an independent website, then you will, accordingly, have to pay up.
Can a subdomain be hosted with a different hosting provider?
Setting up a subdomain on third-party hosting is possible if your main site has a second-level domain name. If the resource is already tied to a third-level name like subdomen.ucoz.com, the decision rests with the hosting provider, which refuses in most such cases.