Can a Domain Name Have an Underscore?

When it comes to choosing a domain name for your website, there are certain rules and restrictions that you need to be aware of. One common question that many people have is whether or not a domain name can contain an underscore. The answer to this question is both yes and no, depending on the context.

In general, domain names can only contain letters, numbers, and hyphens. Special characters such as underscores are not typically allowed in domain names. However, there is an exception to this rule when it comes to subdomains.

Subdomains are prefixes that are added to the beginning of a domain name, separated by a period. For example, in the domain name “blog.example.com,” “blog” is the subdomain. Subdomains can contain underscores, so if you want to use an underscore in your domain name, you can do so by creating a subdomain.

It’s important to note that while subdomains can have underscores, the main domain name cannot. This means that if you want to include an underscore in your domain name, you will need to do so as part of a subdomain rather than the main domain.

Another thing to keep in mind is that even though subdomains can have underscores, it’s generally not recommended to use them. Underscores can cause confusion and are not as user-friendly as hyphens or plain text. If possible, it’s best to stick with letters, numbers, and hyphens in your domain names for clarity and simplicity.

In conclusion, while domain names cannot have underscores, subdomains can. If you absolutely need to include an underscore in your domain name, you can do so by creating a subdomain. However, it’s generally best to avoid using underscores in domain names for the sake of clarity and user-friendliness.