Whether you use a CMS or build a site from scratch, you need to test it. You need to make certain that the front-end and back-end work. A website that doesn’t work is worse than not having one at all.
How can you test a website that you are developing? You have two options. Test the website on a local web server or on a subdomain of a website you currently own.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a testing on a local web server?
The advantages of testing on a local web server are:
- You can test sites offline. When you don’t have access to the Internet, you can still test the website. You’ll be able to verify how the front-end and back-end work.
- Your changes won’t affect the live (production) website. Any changes that you make will only affect your local copy of the site. Your customers can still use the web site without any issues.
- You can have as many web sites as you have space for. If you need to test multiple web site, you can place as many as you need on your server.
- You don’t have to pay hosting fees to host your test site.
The disadvantages are:
- You have to maintain the server. You’ll need to learn how to edit Apache or IIS files.
- You may have differences that affect the performance of the site between your local server and your hosting server.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a subdomain?
The advantages are:
- Test your site on the same hosting server as your live site.
- Your hosting company takes care of the web server. When you run into web server problems, you can call them for help.
- Your visitors will go to the main web site. Any changes you make on a test domain won’t affect your customers experience on the live (production web site).
The disadvantages of a subdomain are:
- You need to edit .htaccess to prevent Google and others from seeing the site. If you don’t, then the search engines will find the test site. You only want completed web sites to be found by the search engines.
- You have to be online to test and make changes. If your internet connection goes down, you can’t continue working on your website.
Which one should you choose?
Every web development project is different. Each client may have different needs. Some people may not want to see a web site until complete. Others may want to see it as you progress through the building of the web site. You need to choose the one that fits how you work and what your client needs.
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