A subdomain is an extension of your main domain that allows you to create separate sections of your website without registering a new domain. Subdomains are useful for organizing content, creating test environments, or hosting region-specific versions of your site.

Examples:

• shop.example.com for an online store

• blog.example.com for a blog

• us.example.com or uk.example.com for regional content

Subdomains function independently while staying connected to the main domain, giving you flexibility in structure and management.

Why Use Subdomains?

Subdomains can be beneficial in several ways:

• Organization: Separate your website into logically distinct sections.

• Search Engine Visibility: Subdomains can rank separately in search results.

• Cost-Efficiency: No need to purchase additional domains for new sections.

Steps to Create a Subdomain in cPanel

1. Log in to cPanel

• Open your browser and go to your cPanel login page (e.g. yourdomain.com/cpanel).

• Enter your username and password.

• Click Log In.

2. Open the Subdomains Tool

• From the cPanel dashboard, scroll to the Domains section.

• Click Subdomains.

3. Create the Subdomain

• In the Create a Subdomain form:

  • Enter the desired subdomain name (e.g., shop or blog).

  • Choose the associated domain from the dropdown menu (if you manage more than one).

  • cPanel will automatically fill in the Document Root (e.g., /public_html/shop). You can modify this path, but using the default is usually recommended.

• Click Create to finalize.

4. Upload Content to the Subdomain

• Go back to the cPanel dashboard.

• Open File Manager or connect via FTP.

• Navigate to the folder created for the subdomain (e.g., /public_html/shop).

• Upload your website files (HTML, PHP, etc.) to this folder.

5. Test the Subdomain

• Open a web browser and visit your new subdomain URL (e.g., shop.example.com).

• If content is uploaded correctly, the page should load normally.

• If not, wait a few minutes for DNS changes to propagate and clear your browser cache if needed.

Managing Your Subdomain

• Subdomains have their own directories and can be managed separately from the main domain.

• You can:

  • Upload or modify content in their folder.

  • Install a CMS like WordPress independently.

  • Create separate databases or scripts specific to the subdomain.

When to Use Subdomains

• Business Expansion: Separate an online store, member area, or portal.

• Regional Content: Serve content tailored to different countries or languages.

• Testing Environments: Develop and test new features without affecting the main site.