WWW vs non-WWW
www and non-www are different hosts. Pick a preferred host, use permanent redirects, and keep canonicals/sitemaps consistent.
Definition
`www.example.com` and `example.com` are different hosts. If both serve the same content, you’ll create duplication and split signals. Choose one preferred host and consolidate with permanent redirects and canonicals.
Why it matters
- Avoid splitting authority across two hosts
- Reduce duplicate content and indexing confusion
- Keep sitemaps, canonicals, and hreflang consistent
How to implement
- Choose a preferred host (www or non-www)
- 301/308 redirect the other host to the preferred one
- Use the preferred host in canonicals, sitemaps, and internal links
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FAQ
Common questions about this term.