Ever wondered how websites get their unique addresses on the internet? Domain names are the key to understanding this digital real estate. They’re not just fancy web addresses; they have a crucial role in how you navigate and interact with the online world. From the websites you visit to the emails you send, domain names are at the heart of it all, working hand-in-hand with the Domain Name System (DNS) to keep the internet running smoothly.
In this guide, you’ll get to grips with the different types of domain names and how they work together. We’ll break down principal domains, subdomains, and alias domains in simple terms. You’ll learn how these elements come into play when mapping domains and why they matter for your online presence. Whether you’re a business owner, a developer, or a curious internet user, this comprehensive simple guide will empower you to choose the best domain structure for your specific needs with confidence.
'Domain name' and 'Domain' are typically used interchangeably to mean the same thing.
Understanding Domain Names
What Is A Domain Name?
A domain name is like your home address on the internet. It’s a unique identifier that helps people find your website easily. Instead of remembering complex IP addresses, which are strings of numbers that connect computers to web servers, you can use a simple, human-readable word called a domain name.
A domain name is not limited to a website; it is also used to identify a web application or other web resource that is accessed by internet users.
Think of it this way: when your friends want to visit you, they don’t memorize your home’s GPS coordinates. They just use your street address. Similarly, when you want to visit a website, you type in its domain name rather than its IP address.
Structure of a domain name
A domain name consists of two main parts: the second-level domain (SLD) and the top-level domain (TLD) . When you read a domain name from left to right, it goes from specific to general.
Second-level domain (SLD): This is typically the name of the business or brand. It’s what users associate with the website and helps strengthen the brand.
Top-level domain (TLD): This appears at the end of the web address and broadly categorizes the website’s purpose or geographical location. Common examples include .com, .org, and .net.
Subdomain (optional): This is a third-level domain that can be added before the second-level domain. It helps structure websites, allowing larger companies to distinguish between different sections of their site.
Types of Domain Names
Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs)
These are the most common types, including .com, .net, and .org. They’re open for anyone to register and don’t indicate a specific geographic location.
Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs)
These indicate where an entity is geographically located. Examples include .us for the United States, .uk for the United Kingdom, and .au for Australia.
New Top-Level Domains (nTLDs)
These are newer additions that help fill the gap in domain availability. They can target specific niches or industries, such as .tech, .restaurant, .design, or .yoga
Remember, choosing the right domain name is important for establishing a solid online presence. It should be easy to remember, reflect your brand, and ideally be short. Your domain name is often the first impression people have of your business online, so give it all the attention it requires.
What is a Primary Domain
A primary domain, also known as the principal domain, is the main domain name that represents your website or web resource on the internet. It’s the core identifier in the Domain Name System (DNS) hierarchy. When you register a domain name, this becomes your principal domain. For example, in “yourdomain.com”, “yourdomain” is the second-level domain, and “.com” is the top-level domain (TLD).
Importance of Primary Domain in Website Identity
Your primary domain plays a crucial role in establishing your online identity. It’s the address users type to reach your website directly. This domain is essential for several reasons:
Brand recognition
It’s often closely tied to your brand name, making it easier for users to remember and find you online. For instance, domainmappingsystem.com, the primary domain for the Domain Mapping System plugin, is closely tied to the brand name of the tool.
SEO benefits
Search engines typically give more weight to your primary domain, which can help improve your search rankings.
For instance, when you type ‘domain mapping’ into Google search, the domainmappingsystem.com primary domain is listed on the first page of the search results returned.
Email consistency
It allows you to create professional email addresses that match your website (e.g., [email protected]).
Trust and credibility
A well-chosen primary domain can enhance your business’s perceived legitimacy and professionalism.
Examples of Primary Domains
To help you understand principal domains better, here are some best known brand examples:
- google.com – Google’s principal domain.
- amazon.com – Amazon’s principal domain.
- microsoft.com – Microsoft’s principal domain.
These primary domains use the brand names of these companies and serve as their main web addresses. They’re easy to remember and directly associated with the brand.
From the primary domain, you can create subdomains or alias domains to organize different sections of your website or services.
What are Subdomains?
A subdomain is a prefix added to the main domain name of your website, creating a separate section within your site. It’s like having different apartments at the same street address, each with its own specific entrance and purpose.
For example, in “blog.yourdomain.com”, “blog” is the subdomain, “yourdomain” is the primary domain, and “.com” is the top-level domain (TLD).
Subdomains function as independent websites within the larger domain, allowing you to have distinct content, design, and functionality while still being connected to the main site. This separation helps you organize your website more efficiently and enhances the user experience.
Purpose and Uses of Subdomains
Subdomains serve various purposes and have multiple uses:
Content organization
You can use subdomains to separate different sections of your website, such as a blog, online store, or support forum.
Multilingual websites
Subdomains help organize content for different languages, making it easy for users to navigate to their preferred language.
Testing and staging
Developers often use subdomains to create testing or staging versions of websites before publishing updates live.
Location-specific sites
Companies can use subdomains for different geographic locations (e.g., uk.yoursite.com).
Mobile websites
Some businesses create separate mobile versions of their sites using subdomains (e.g., m.yourdomain.com).
User-specific sections
You can create subdomains to serve specific groups of users, like “guest.yourdomain.com” or “user.yourdomain.com”.
Creating and Managing Subdomains
You can create and manage subdomains using your hosting provider’s File Manager app, usually cPanel for most shared hosting accounts.
Read this guide on how to create a subdomain and configure DNS in cPanel.
Search engines view subdomains as separate websites, so they must be crawled and indexed separately. This can be advantageous for SEO, allowing you to target specific keywords for different sections of your site.
Domain Aliases and their Role
What is a Domain Alias
A domain alias is an additional domain name that points to your website’s primary domain. It acts as another entry point for users to access your site. When someone visits the alias domain, they’re automatically viewing content from the primary site on the alias domain.
Benefits of using aliases
Domain aliases offer several advantages for your online presence:
Brand protection
By registering similar domain names, you prevent competitors from using them and maintain brand integrity.
Targeted marketing
You can create specific marketing campaigns or landing pages without building entire new sites.
Improved SEO
Multiple domains provide more entry points for search engines to discover your content, potentially boosting your site’s authority.
Easier rebranding
Aliases allow you to pivot or rebrand without losing your online audience.
Cost-efficiency
You can maintain a single site while having multiple domain names, reducing hosting and development costs.
Localized presence
Using country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) or domains with different city names as aliases helps establish a local presence in different regions.
Memorable URLs
Aliases allow you to use domain extensions or keywords that are easy for your target audience to remember.
Read this guide to learn how to easily set up a domain alias for your WordPress site.
Or if you prefer video, learn how to setup domain aliases in the video below:
Remember to configure DNS settings for your aliases. This may involve adding or editing A records or CNAME records, depending on your setup.
Conclusion
Understanding domain names, subdomains, and aliases is crucial for anyone looking to establish or expand their online presence. These tools offer flexibility, organization, and marketing advantages when used strategically.
Thankfully, with tools such as the Domain Mapping System, you don’t have to deal with the technical stuff of setting up multiple subdomains and aliases for your primary domain.
