How To Harness the Power of Sub-Directories To Host Your cPanel Domain Files

Discover how to utilize sub-directories to host your cPanel primary domain files effectively. Follow step-by-step instructions and best practices to seamlessly organize and manage your website content within cPanel.

What is a Sub-Directory?

Before delving into the setup process, let's clarify what a sub-directory is.

Imagine your website as a bustling city. The main streets and avenues represent your primary domain, showcasing your core content. Subdirectories are like specialized neighborhoods, catering to specific interests within your website's overall theme.

This guide explores an advanced technique: using a subdirectory to host your cPanel primary domain's content. While the default setup points your domain to the "public_html" directory, this method allows you to designate a different subdirectory within "public_html" as your primary domain's home.

Why Use Sub-Directories in cPanel?

Using sub-directories in cPanel offers several benefits:

• Organization: Keep your website files structured and easily accessible by categorizing content into separate folders.
• Content Segmentation: Divide your website into distinct sections or projects within sub-directories, improving navigation and user experience.
• Testing Environment: Create sub-directories to test new website features or designs before implementing them on your main site.
• Security: Isolate specific website components or applications within dedicated sub-directories to enhance security measures.

Setting Up Sub-Directories in cPanel

Follow these steps to set up a sub-directory to host your cPanel primary domain files:

1. Create the Sub-Directory:

   • Access your cPanel File Manager (cPanel > Files > File Manager > public_html).
   • Click on the "+ Folder" option in the toolbar.
   • Enter the desired folder name (e.g., /$folderName) and choose the location for creation.
   • Click "Create New Folder" to complete the process.

2. Backup Existing .htaccess File:

   • Before proceeding, it's crucial to back up your existing .htaccess file for safety.

   • In File Manager settings, enable the option to show hidden files (dotfiles).

   • Use an SSH client or cPanel Terminal to list and back up the .htaccess file:

     ls -al cp .htaccess htaccess.backup

3. Configure .htaccess File:

   • Create or edit your .htaccess file to redirect your primary domain to the sub-directory.
   • Use the provided code snippet as a template, replacing "webcomm.dev" with your domain and "testing" with your sub-directory name.

4. Testing and Troubleshooting:

   • After implementing the .htaccess rules, test whether your cPanel primary domain serves content from the sub-directory.
   • If any issues arise, revert to the backed-up .htaccess file or troubleshoot using alternative methods.

5. Finalizing Changes:

   • Once satisfied with the setup, finalize the changes by saving the modified .htaccess file.
   • Use either the command line or cPanel's File Manager to rename or replace the .htaccess files accordingly.

Alternative Approaches:

Remember, there are other ways to achieve website organization. Consider using subdomains or add-on domains within your cPanel account for distinct sections of your website.

For WebHostingM Customers:

If you're a WebHostingM customer and require assistance, feel free to submit a ticket to our technical support team at https://mydashboard.webhostingm.com/submitticket.php