Www.

Here's the breakdown of why the www. prefix has declined in popularity, along with when it's still best to use it:

Reasons for the Decline of "www."

• Simplified User Experience: Dropping the "www." makes URLs shorter, easier to type, and easier to remember. It creates a cleaner and more streamlined experience for users.
• Mobile Era: Typing on a small touchscreen can be cumbersome. Every character eliminated helps streamline the process on mobile devices.
• Search Engine Indifference: Search engines like Google treat "www.example.com" and "example.com" as the same website. The prefix offers no SEO advantage.
• Brand Focus: Emphasizing the core brand name (example.com) rather than a technical subdomain (www) became a trend for many companies, making their online presence feel more modern.

When to Keep "www."

• Distinguishing Subdomains: If your website has several subdomains with important functions (e.g., [invalid URL removed], [invalid URL removed]), keeping the "www." prefix helps clearly differentiate the main website.
• Load Balancing: In some complex web infrastructure setups, the "www." subdomain might be used for technical purposes, such as load balancing across different servers.
• Legacy Sites: Some older websites might have been built with the "www." hardcoded in various places. Changing this can be a complex process.

Should You Use a Redirect?

Generally, yes! Using a 301 redirect from the "www." version of your domain to the non-www version (or vice-versa, depending on your preference) has several benefits:

• User Experience: Users who reflexively type "www." will still be seamlessly redirected to the correct version.
• SEO: Redirects prevent duplicate content issues that can confuse search engines and potentially harm your search rankings.
• Consistency: It ensures a single authoritative version of your website, streamlining all backlinks and traffic flow.

Conclusion

While most websites have moved away from the "www." prefix, there are still valid reasons to use it in specific situations. Whether you choose to use it or not, implementing a 301 redirect is good practice for a seamless user experience and optimal SEO.