When it comes to building a website, one of the first things you might notice is whether the URL includes “www” or not. This small difference can often raise questions, especially when it comes to SEO. Does it make any difference if your website uses “www” or if you opt for a “naked” URL without it? This article will dive into the differences, benefits, and SEO impacts of using www vs. non-www for your website, helping you make the best choice for your online presence.
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Understanding the Structure of a URL
Before we get into the specifics of www vs non-www, it’s important to understand the general structure of a URL. A URL, or Uniform Resource Locator, is the address used to access resources on the internet. It’s more than just a string of text—it’s a structured way for browsers and search engines to find and access your website.
There are several elements in a URL that contribute to how it functions and how search engines interpret it. These include the protocol (HTTP or HTTPS), the domain name, and the optional “www” prefix.
HTTP and HTTPS
HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) is the standard communication method used by browsers to interact with servers and load websites. Most websites traditionally start with “http://”. However, security has become a priority in recent years, which has led to more websites switching to HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure). HTTPS adds a layer of encryption, ensuring that the data shared between a user’s browser and the website server is protected.
So, a website can either begin with “http://” or “https://”. The difference here lies mainly in security. If your website has an SSL certificate or Transport Layer Security (TLS), it will use HTTPS, which has become an important factor for SEO. Google has confirmed that HTTPS is a ranking signal, meaning sites with HTTPS may perform better in search results compared to those with HTTP.
What are www and Non-www?
Now, let’s get into the heart of the debate: www vs. non-www. In the early days of the internet, websites almost always used “www” as part of their URL. Over time, however, more websites have dropped the “www” in favor of a simpler, non-www (or “naked”) domain. But what’s the real difference?
The “www” prefix technically functions as a subdomain. Just like you could have “blog.example.com” or “shop.example.com”, “www.example.com” is simply a subdomain of “example.com”. When you remove “www”, you’re using the root domain instead, creating a cleaner, simpler URL like “example.com”.
Is one better than the other for SEO? That’s where things get interesting.
Is www or Non-www Better for SEO?
From a technical standpoint, both www and non-www versions of a domain are treated as entirely separate URLs.
For example
- https://www.example.com
- https://example.com
are different URLs leading to different locations.
This is why it’s crucial to be consistent in your choice—search engines could interpret these as two different sites if they’re not properly configured, leading to issues with duplicate content and splitting your SEO efforts between the two.
In reality, there’s no direct SEO benefit to using one over the other. Both are fine to use as long as you choose one and stick with it. However, there are some technical and user experience differences that might help you make your decision.
How Browsers Handle WWW
Modern web browsers are starting to hide the “www” part of URLs by default. For example, in Google Chrome or Safari, you may not see the “www” in the address bar unless you specifically click on it. This move is part of a broader trend toward simplifying the way URLs are displayed to users, with an emphasis on making web browsing as user-friendly as possible.
Even though browsers hide the “www” prefix, it’s still there in the background. It just doesn’t show up unless you’re editing the URL manually. This makes the distinction between www and non-www less important from a user’s perspective.
Non-www Domains are Better for User Experience
In general, non-www domains tend to offer a slightly better user experience. People are increasingly accustomed to typing URLs without the “www” prefix, so having a non-www domain can reduce the number of redirects for users who are visiting your site directly. It’s cleaner, easier to say out loud, and more intuitive for most users.
However, this is a relatively minor point and unlikely to have a noticeable impact on your website’s performance. The key here is consistency—choose the version that best fits your brand, and make sure all your content and links align with that choice.
Can I Use Both Non-www and www?
Technically, yes—you can set up both www and non-www versions of your website. However, this is not recommended. If both versions of your site are live, search engines will treat them as two separate sites. This can create duplicate content issues, split your link equity, and generally confuse search engines about which version of your site to rank.
To avoid these problems, you should choose one version and stick with it. If you need to redirect traffic from the version you’re not using, make sure to set up 301 redirects. This tells search engines that the traffic and link authority from the non-preferred version should be passed on to your preferred version.
Pros & Cons of www and Non-www
Both www and non-www have their pros and cons, but ultimately the choice comes down to your website’s specific needs and your personal preference.
For www domains, one advantage is that they can restrict cookies to specific subdomains. This is useful if you have multiple subdomains, such as “shop.example.com” or “blog.example.com”, and you want each subdomain to handle cookies independently. Another benefit of www domains is that some CDN (Content Delivery Network) configurations are easier to set up with a www prefix, though this is becoming less of an issue as technology evolves.
On the other hand, non-www domains are generally simpler and more user-friendly. They’re easier to say, write, and type, making them a better option for user experience in many cases. However, they don’t offer the same cookie restriction capabilities as www domains, which could be an issue if you’re managing a large, complex site with many subdomains.
How to Check if You Are Using WWW vs Non-WWW in WordPress
If you’re using WordPress, checking and adjusting your URL structure is straightforward. In your WordPress admin dashboard, go to “Settings” and then click on “General”. There, you’ll see two fields: “WordPress Address” and “Site Address”. These fields show the URL format you’re using, whether it’s www or non-www.
Make sure that both fields match your preferred URL structure. Changing these settings is easy, but if your website is already established, be cautious. Changing your URL structure after your site has been indexed by search engines can create SEO issues, so only make changes if you know how to properly implement redirects.
SEO Benefits of Using WWW vs Non-WWW
When it comes to SEO, search engines like Google don’t have a preference between www or non-www. They treat both equally as long as they’re properly configured. The real SEO benefit comes from choosing one version, sticking with it, and making sure that the other version is redirected properly.
If both versions are live without redirects, you’ll run into duplicate content issues, which can harm your site’s rankings. Redirects also ensure that your link equity is consolidated, meaning all the backlinks pointing to your site contribute to a single domain, boosting your SEO efforts.
SEO Risk of Duplicate Content
One of the biggest risks associated with using both www and non-www versions of your site is duplicate content. When search engines find the same content on multiple URLs, they struggle to decide which version to rank. This can lead to both versions being penalized, resulting in a drop in search rankings and less visibility in search results.
The good news is that this issue is easily avoidable. By setting up 301 redirects from one version of your domain to the other, you can ensure that search engines see only one version of your site, preserving your SEO performance.
The Importance of Setting a Canonical URL for SEO
Canonical URLs are another tool in your SEO toolbox. A canonical URL tells search engines which version of a page or domain you want them to index, preventing duplicate content issues. This is particularly useful if you have both www and non-www versions of your website, or if your site has multiple variations of the same content.
In WordPress, you can set canonical URLs using SEO plugins like Yoast. These plugins allow you to specify the preferred version of each page, helping search engines index your site properly and avoid penalties for duplicate content.
Overview for Fixing Mixed WWW and Non-WWW URLs
If you suspect your site has both www and non-www versions live, it’s important to take action quickly. Start by contacting your hosting provider, as they can help you identify any server-side issues. Next, configure your site to use only one version of the URL, either www or non-www, depending on your preference.
From there, set up 301 redirects to ensure that all traffic and link equity from the non-preferred version is passed on to the preferred version. Finally, set canonical URLs to signal to search engines which version of your site they should index.
WWW vs Non-WWW – Which One Should I Use?
In the end, the choice between www and non-www is largely a matter of personal preference. Both are perfectly valid options from an SEO standpoint, and neither offers a clear advantage over the other. However, www may have some technical benefits, such as cookie handling and CDN configuration, while non-www is simpler and more user-friendly.
The most important thing is consistency. Once you’ve chosen one version, stick with it across your entire site, and make sure the other version is properly redirected to avoid duplicate content issues and lost SEO value.
