# What are subdomains, addon domains, and parked domains?

> Learn the difference between subdomains, addon domains and parked domains, and pick the right one for your site.

Source: https://helpcenter.ruachost.com/domains/dns-and-settings/what-are-subdomains-addon-domains-and-parked-domains/

What Are Subdomains, Addon Domains, and Parked Domains?

Learn the differences between subdomains, addon domains, and parked domains. This guide explains each one with clear examples to help you choose the option that best suits your needs.

**Overview**\
Alongside your primary domain (for example, *example.com*), you may also encounter the following domain types:\
• Subdomains\
• Addon domains\
• Parked domains (aliases)

Let’s look at each of them in detail.

**Subdomains**\
A subdomain is an extension of your main domain that creates a separate section or website without needing a new domain registration. It adds a prefix to your domain name, separated by a dot.

For example:\
*docs.example.com* — where **docs** is a subdomain of *example.com*.

Subdomains are great for organizing different areas of your website, such as:\
• *shop.example.com* for an online store\
• *blog.example.com* for a company blog\
• *webmail.example.com* for accessing emails

Subdomains are usually created in DNS using **A** or **CNAME** records and can host unique content separate from your main site.

**Add on Domains**\
An addon domain is a completely separate, registered domain hosted within the same account as your primary domain.\
Each addon domain can have its own website, email accounts, and configurations — it doesn’t need to be related to your main domain.

For example:\
If your primary domain is *ruachost.com*, you could add *myportfolio.net* or *business.org* as addon domains to host additional independent websites under the same account.

Addon domains are ideal for managing multiple websites conveniently from one hosting plan.

**Parked Domains (Aliases)**\
A parked domain, also called an alias, is a domain name that displays the same content as your primary domain.

Parked domains are commonly used to protect your brand and prevent others from registering similar domains — a practice known as **cybersquatting**.

For example:\
If someone visits *ruachost.net*, they’ll see the same website as *ruachost.com*, even though *ruachost.net* appears in the browser’s address bar.

Parked domains are useful when you want multiple domain names to point to one website.