A section under your existing domain.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
shop.yourdomain.com blog.yourdomain.com staging.yourdomain.com
WHAT IT IS FOR
A separate application under your existing domain A staging or development copy A section requiring different software
WHAT YOU DO NOT NEED
Another domain registration. Subdomains are free and unlimited within your plan's allowance.
HOW IT WORKS
cPanel creates a directory and a DNS record.
That subdomain serves from that directory.
WHEN TO USE A SUBDOMAIN RATHER THAN A SUBDIRECTORY
When the content is genuinely separate When it runs different software When rewrite rules would conflict
WHEN A SUBDIRECTORY IS BETTER
When the content belongs to the main site.
Search authority is shared with a subdirectory and treated more separately with a subdomain.
FOR A BLOG
A subdirectory is generally better for search.
