What a www...

[Bones92]

Ok.

This is it.

I am so annoyed by websites without a "www" at the front anymore, or with their own "www" that isn't a "www" e.g. "http://something.example.com" that i MUST know how they do this!

I know the end part (e.g. the .com) is a TLD, well whats the bit at the start called? I tried googling it, but it's hard to search for something when you don't know what it's called! I spent half an hour trying various things like "make your own www", "how to choose your www" and "customizing the www" when I decided I'd consult the experts... so here I am.

Thanks for any help!

[stevejohnson1958]

It's called a domain name.

[soybean]

I found this on godaddy.com:

What is a second-level domain (SLD)?

The second-level domain is the readable part of the domain name that is located immediately to the left of the dot. For example, the second-level domain in coolexample.com is "coolexample." You define the second-level domain when you register most domains. However, there are some registries that restrict the second-level domain, such as .UK domains. Domains with this extension must include .CO. For example, coolexample.co.uk.

Second-level domains can be divided into further domain levels (for example, www.one.coolexample.com). These subdomains sometimes represent different computer servers within departments, but they can be created for any purpose. More than one second-level domain name can be used for the same IP address.

[Bones92]

no but i'm talking about the "www" part. E.g. for invisionfree its

http://z1.invisionfree.com

Well where did the www go and how did they replace it with a z1?

[BC_Programmer]

they didn't get rid of it, the actual address is probably

http://www.z1.invisionfree.com

but when you don't place the www, some browsers will automatically place it there before connecting.


try it- the above address works as well...

[Bones92]

oh right. nifty.

Lol now i get it i think.

Thanks

[soybean]

no but i'm talking about the "www" part. E.g. for invisionfree its

http://z1.invisionfree.com

Well where did the www go and how did they replace it with a z1?

Just to perhaps slightly refine a point here, they did not replace www with z1.  As BC_Programmer
illustrated, the site can be viewed at both http://z1.invisionfree.com and http://www.z1.invisionfree.com. As I previously posted: 

Second-level domains can be divided into further domain levels (for example, www.one.coolexample.com). These subdomains sometimes represent different computer servers within departments, but they can be created for any purpose. More than one second-level domain name can be used for the same IP address.

This is what you see with z1.invisionfree, a dividing into further domain levels.  Here's another example: http://support.dlink.com/faq/  Instead of all pages on D-Link's site beginning with www.dlink, they has a sub-domain for support.  And, http://support.dlink.com/faq/ can also be displayed as http://www.support.dlink.com/faq/ 

The dropping of www and the fact that any sites will work either with a URL which includes www or without the www is, I believe, possible because the web server software allows this.

[michaewlewis]

It's called a subdomain. Like help.microsoft.com, msdn.microsoft.com, technet.microsoft.com, etc.

It depends on how the website is set up, whether or not you can still put a www in front of the subdomain. Most of the sites I've visited don't allow it. It will just give you a "404 - page not found". For example, if you type www.technet.microsoft.com, you won't go anywhere.

[Bones92]

It's called a subdomain. Like help.microsoft.com, msdn.microsoft.com, technet.microsoft.com, etc.

It depends on how the website is set up, whether or not you can still put a www in front of the subdomain. Most of the sites I've visited don't allow it. It will just give you a "404 - page not found". For example, if you type www.technet.microsoft.com, you won't go anywhere.

Ahh, thank you, thats exactly what i wanted to know.

[Computer Hope Admin]

Also defined on our subdomain definition.

Surprisingly I didn't have this mentioned in our main URL definition either. So I've also updated this page to contain this information for future users.

[kpac]

If your website uses cPanel its easy to set up. Just click "Subdomains".