What is the Difference Between Addon, Parked, and Subdomains? Print

Applies to: All hosting clients using CWP (Control Web Panel).

Overview

When managing your website hosting in CWP, you'll see options for adding "Addon Domains," "Parked Domains" (sometimes called Aliases), and "Subdomains." While they all relate to domain names, they serve very different purposes.

Understanding the difference is key to organizing your websites and making sure visitors end up in the right place.² This guide breaks down each type.

1. Subdomains: Organizing Sections of Your Main Site³

Think of a subdomain as creating a new section within your existing website, accessible via a prefix.

• Definition: A subdomain adds a prefix to your main domain name, separated by a dot.

• Format: prefix.yourdomain.com

• Purpose: To organize or separate distinct sections of your main website.

   

• Examples:

  • blog.yourdomain.com (for your blog)

  • shop.yourdomain.com (for your online store)

  • members.yourdomain.com (for a members-only area)

  • support.yourdomain.com (for a help desk)

• How it Works: In CWP, creating a subdomain typically creates a new folder inside your main public_html directory (e.g., public_html/blog).  The content you place in this folder becomes the website for that subdomain. It functions as a separate website but is clearly part of your main domain identity.

• Key Point: You do not need to register a new domain name to create a subdomain.

  

2. Addon Domains: Hosting Completely Separate Websites

Think of an addon domain as adding a completely new and independent website to your same hosting account.

• Definition: An addon domain is a separate, fully functional domain name that you've registered (e.g., anotherdomain.com) and want to host alongside your primary domain (yourdomain.com) under the same CWP account.

• Format: anotherdomain.com (a completely different domain name)

• Purpose: To host multiple distinct websites from a single hosting plan, without needing separate accounts.

   

• Examples:

  • You have yourbusiness.com and want to add yourhobbyblog.net to the same account.

  • You own widgetstore.com and also want to host gadgetworld.org.

• How it Works: When you add an addon domain in CWP, it creates a new folder within your home directory, often outside the main public_html (e.g., /home/youruser/anotherdomain.com). This folder becomes the root directory for the new website. Visitors going to anotherdomain.com will see the content from this folder and won't know it's hosted on the same account as yourdomain.com.

• Key Point: You must register the addon domain name separately (with WebOptex.com) before you can add it in CWP. You also need to point its nameservers to your hosting account.

   

  
  

3. Parked Domains (Aliases): Different Doors to the Same House

Think of a parked domain as creating multiple addresses that all lead to your one primary website.

• Definition: A parked domain (often called an "Alias" in modern CWP/cPanel) is a domain name that you own but doesn't have its own website content.  Instead, it displays the exact same content as your primary domain (or another specified domain on your account).

• Format: differentdomain.com (another domain you own)

• Purpose:

  • To catch common misspellings of your main domain (e.g., yourdomian.com points to yourdomain.com).

  • To use multiple domain extensions (e.g., yourdomain.net and yourdomain.org both show the content of yourdomain.com).

  • To hold a domain for future use while still having it lead somewhere.

• How it Works: When a visitor goes to the parked domain (differentdomain.com), they see the website content from your primary domain (yourdomain.com), but the address bar still shows differentdomain.com. It's not a redirect (which would change the URL in the address bar).

• Key Point: You must register the parked domain name separately. You also need to point its nameservers to your hosting account.

   

  

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