These names describe different ways an additional domain can use a hosting account.
- Alias or parked domain: shares the main website’s document root, so it uses the same website files.
- Additional or addon domain: uses its own document root within the hosting account for a separate website.
In current cPanel interfaces these may be managed through Domains, with an option to share the main domain’s document root. Available features and the number of hosted domains depend on your hosting plan.
Domain registration, DNS, HTTPS certificates and email services still need the appropriate configuration. Adding a domain in cPanel does not register it or automatically set up every service.
If the extra domain should simply send visitors to the main website, a redirect may be more suitable than serving identical content under two addresses. Contact Damien before changing a working domain or document root.
Reference: cPanel’s domain and document-root guidance.
