What is a Subdomain?
A subdomain is a prefix added to your main domain name. If your domain is `example.com`, then `shop.example.com`, `blog.example.com`, and `app.example.com` are all subdomains.
Common Uses for Subdomains
- **shop.domain.com** — Separate e-commerce store (WooCommerce, Shopify)
- **app.domain.com** — Customer-facing web application or portal
- **blog.domain.com** — Blog section with a different CMS
- **staging.domain.com** — Development/test environment
- **mail.domain.com** — Webmail access
- **api.domain.com** — Public REST API
How to Create a Subdomain in cPanel
1. Log in to your cPanel account
2. Under the **Domains** section, click **Subdomains**
3. In the **Subdomain** field, type the prefix (e.g., `shop`)
4. Choose the parent domain from the dropdown
5. The document root will auto-fill (e.g., `public_html/shop`) — you can change this
6. Click **Create**
The subdomain is live immediately for file serving, but DNS propagation can take up to 24 hours to reach all users.
Pointing a Subdomain to a Different Server
If your subdomain needs to point to a different IP address (e.g., an external application):
1. Go to your DNS zone editor in cPanel or your domain registrar
2. Add a new **A record** with the subdomain prefix (e.g., `app`) and the target IP address
3. Set TTL to 3600 (1 hour)
Adding SSL to a Subdomain
Each subdomain needs its own SSL certificate. Options:
- **cPanel AutoSSL** — Automatically issues Let's Encrypt certificates for subdomains (free)
- **Wildcard SSL** — A single certificate covers all subdomains (`*.yourdomain.com`)
In cPanel, go to **SSL/TLS → Manage SSL Sites** and install the certificate for your subdomain.
Subdomains and SEO
Google treats subdomains as separate websites by default. If you want your blog or shop to benefit from your main domain's SEO authority, use a subdirectory instead (`example.com/blog`). If you want complete separation (separate analytics, separate rankings), a subdomain is the right choice.
Contact webzworld support if you need help setting up subdomains or wildcard SSL certificates.