Extended Domains

Philly · #1 (**permalink**) 02-08-10, 13:28

I'm not sure what it is called but I often see this on forums. This is not really a problem but I just want to know the difference, if there is one.

I see some websites have a domain like www. forum.website.com and then there is another one where it has www. website.com/forum. Is there a technical difference between these kind of domains?

centelo · #2 (**permalink**) 02-08-10, 14:09

To confuse the public?

Honestly I hate it when sites get so micromanaged that this ends up being the result, why not just keep it simple?

NCHosting · #3 (**permalink**) 02-09-10, 00:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philly

I'm not sure what it is called but I often see this on forums. This is not really a problem but I just want to know the difference, if there is one.

I see some websites have a domain like www. forum.website.com and then there is another one where it has www. website.com/forum. Is there a technical difference between these kind of domains?

I prefer the first url - forum. website.com (drop the www) as you can still redirect the sub-domain to any directory you like.

Some prefer the second option. All in personal taste. I think a sub-domain is cleaner.

Martin · #4 (**permalink**) 02-09-10, 00:48

Yes, even I prefer forum.domain.com
You can independently work on it. Even if the main domain is submitted in directories, you can do directory submissions for sub-domain URL forum.domain.com

Philly · #5 (**permalink**) 02-10-10, 14:26

I want to make this clear to me. The first option where the word "forum" is at the beginning is a sub-domain.

Is the second option where "forum" is at the end of the domain can also be called a sub-domain or is it a separate domain all by itself?

NCHosting · #6 (**permalink**) 02-10-10, 16:41

No. The second option is simply a directory within the file system.

The first option is a sub domain.

Subdomain - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

centelo · #7 (**permalink**) 02-12-10, 13:23

When do you all think the 3w's will end? I see some sites trying to switch over but many still keep them. Is it always a matter of personal preference?

Thomas · #8 (**permalink**) 02-13-10, 14:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Philly

I want to make this clear to me. The first option where the word "forum" is at the beginning is a sub-domain.

Is the second option where "forum" is at the end of the domain can also be called a sub-domain or is it a separate domain all by itself?

Actually the first option where it is forum.domain.com is a sub-domain, the location of the sub-domain is always a directory. For eg: www .yourdomain.com/forum_directory_location

And the second thing www .yourdomain.com/forum is a directory, it does not means that it is a sub-domain.

Simple Explaination: A Sub-domain is located in a directory and can also be used with the second form (www. yourdomain.com/forum) but a directory is not always a sub-domain and it can only be viewed as (www. website.com/forum)

Hope this helps

Philly · #9 (**permalink**) 02-15-10, 18:57

Thanks Thomas. My knowledge is now better. To make it simple. A dog (sub-domain) is a mammal (directory). But a mammal is not always a dog.

Does this really matter? I mean why is it that there are two forms and not just one? Which of these forms is better to use?