Explain why web addresses start with "www"?

Historical origin of the prefix "www"

In the early days of the web, around the late 80s and early 90s, most internet resources were identified by their protocol: ftp for file transfers, news for discussion forums, mail for emails. When Tim Berners-Lee and his team at CERN invented the web, they needed a simple name to clearly distinguish servers intended for web pages. They chose www, which simply stands for World Wide Web, to distinctly mark that the server in question hosted web pages and nothing else. This clear prefix also facilitated the organization of servers at a time when the network was far less intuitive than it is today. It quickly became a convention, to the point of permanently influencing browsing habits.

Technical role of the "www"

The prefix www designates a subdomain specifically related to what is called the World Wide Web, that is to say the graphical part of the Internet where you navigate through interconnected web pages. Technically, it mainly helps servers clearly distinguish web services from other services like emails (which often use mail or smtp instead). In practical terms, it allows a site manager to indicate that the content offered is of the HTTP or HTTPS type, the protocols that manage the display of sites on your browser. Although it is technically possible to use other subdomains or even none at all, this convention has become established because it significantly simplifies life for network administrators in configuring and managing their server architecture.

Current usage and trend of omitting "www"

Today, you encounter the prefix www in front of a URL less and less often. Why? Because it has become of little use to the average user, who already knows that the address points to the web. Modern browsers don’t even display it automatically anymore. To simplify internet addresses and make them easier to remember, many sites therefore prefer to remove the prefix. Technically, it’s just a matter of server settings, nothing complicated. This trend reflects a general desire for simplicity and efficiency on the contemporary web.

Impact of "www" on web SEO

Using or not using www doesn't directly change your position in Google. However, if your site is accessible with both versions (with and without www), that can cause problems because Google might consider it duplicate content. In this case, your ranking could be penalized or confused. To avoid this, it's better to choose one version — with or without www — and redirect the other to it with a permanent redirect (301). This way, you maintain all the good SEO practices and Google clearly knows which URL to prioritize.

Comparison between web addresses with and without "www"

A www address sometimes allows for simpler technical management, particularly by facilitating the use of cookies specific to the "www" subdomain. Conversely, a non-www address may seem shorter, cleaner, and more modern. In terms of SEO, there is no major advantage between the two, as long as you clearly define which one you prefer to search engines: the important thing is not to mix the two, as Google may consider it duplicate content. Today, the difference perceived by an average user is minimal or non-existent, so it is primarily a matter of image, aesthetic taste, and ease of use. The key is to remain consistent in how you use your address everywhere.