difference bitween http://domain and http://www.domain?

when i search for google on my doamin name i have 2 urls directing me to my homepage; http://domain.com and http://www.domain.com.

can someone explain me why google indexes 2 urls for 1 page, and does this mean you have to build PR for both urls?

(here are my google search results)

 

You should choose one and redirect the other one. That way you will only get links for one version and not split the effect of inbound links.

 

301 one to the other, and build all your links with it.

You could also set your preference in your webmaster tools account.

 

ok, how do i make a redirect or 301.. or is that the same?
and wich one should i redirect? the http:// or the http://www

 

Like so. Be sure to replace domain.tld with the domain name you're using.

RewriteEngine On
Options +FollowSymLinks
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^domain.tld [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.domain.tld/$1 [L,R=301]

Code (markup):

Make sure that goes into your domain root's (the folder with your site's home page) .htaccess file. Many FTP clients have hidden files (such as .htaccess) hidden from view. Make sure that the program can see them. If after doing that you still can't see it, you'll have to create one. Just create an empty file called .htaccess (save as "All Files" if using Notepad, or x.htaccess if using a Mac), paste the code in and save it. Then upload to your server. If you're using a Mac, remove the x so the server will recognize it as a .htaccess file.

If you already have a .htaccess file there, then just add the above code, making the necessary change (replacing the example domain with your own).

 

thank you for this information, but what domain will be redirected, the http or the www

 

ok i figured it out, thanks for the very usefull information.
now ive got another question. i did some PR work on my www domain. Will this affect my http domain?

 

Whatever PageRank was assigned to the non-www version will be transfered over to the www.

 

www version according to what I have read is old and so you should 301 redirect to http: version without the www IMHO.

Saying that though I found this was not needed on one of my domains as it seems to happen automatically on the big G afrer a day or two, but may be that was just pure luck or something I did that I forgot I had put in place.

 

thqanks for the information.. reputation given

 

make sure some when they do linking forget the www or they link to the .index extention which wont bring much linking score

 

thanks guy i got good info from this thread

 

Google consider WWW and non-WWW version of domains as two independent websites and index them separate, thus creating a duplicate website problem.