Domains and URLs

In this section

Every page on your site has a domain name and a path. Together these form the URL where site visitors can access the individual pages on your site. For example:

https://sitesuserguide.stanford.edu/support/introduction-stanford-sites-syllabus

https://sitesuserguide.stanford.edu/ is the domain name.

/support/introduction-stanford-sites-syllabus is the path. 

Domain names

Choosing a domain name is an important part of your site's branding. When you are ready for your new site to be available for visitors, you can request that we launch your site at your chosen domain. Learn more in our Launch Checklist or, if you are ready, make a Launch Request.

Sites with a stanford.edu domain name must meet all relevant University policies. Check out the policies section of this guide to learn more.

Common domain patterns on Stanford Sites

When you first get your Stanford Site, your site will have a sites.stanford.edu domain name. This is the development domain name and should never be used to publicize your site.  The options for selecting a public-facing domain name are outlined below:

• If you have an existing stanford.edu domain name from an older version of the site, we can work with you to move that domain name to your new Stanford Site.
• If your site is part of an official academic or business unit, you are eligible for a three part domain (e.g. sitename.stanford.edu.) If you aren't sure what domain name is appropriate for your site, take a look at the University's policy on stanford.edu domain names. 
• If your site is a personal site, you are eligible for a people.stanford.edu domain name (e.g. yourname.people.stanford.edu.)
• If your site is a student or staff group, or a community of practice, you are eligible for a groups.stanford.edu domain name (e.g. groupname.groups.stanford.edu)

There may be additional policies or options for other domain name patterns in your individual school or business unit. Consult with your local IT or communication team to find out.

Frequently asked questions about domain names

What is the difference between launching my site and the Vanity URL service?

A vanity URL is basically a shortcut. The Vanity URL service will forward traffic from a stanford.edu domain to another URL. The vanity URL will not be the domain displayed in the site visitor's browser as they navigate through your site. This may be appropriate to direct visitors to a specific portion of your site or to direct traffic from a domain you are retiring to a new location. It is not an appropriate method for establishing a domain name on your site and relying on this method may affect how search engines see your site.

Can I use Stanford Sites to redirect a stanford.edu domain name to an another site?

No. To redirect a stanford.edu domain to a non-stanford.edu site or a different stanford.edu site, please use the Vanity URL service. Stanford Sites that are being used solely as redirects will be retired.

Can I host a .com, .net, .org or other domain on Stanford Sites?

In general, no. If you have a specific case associated with an official Stanford initiative with this need, please reach out via ServiceNow.

I already told visitors all about my sites.stanford.edu domain. What if I don't launch my site?

We may block traffic to unlaunched sites in the future, so we recommend you launch your site. Traffic to your development domain will continue to function as usual, giving you the chance to direct users to your production domain.