{"id":1670,"date":"2021-05-20T09:35:26","date_gmt":"2021-05-20T06:35:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/kb\/?p=1670"},"modified":"2025-11-27T14:38:34","modified_gmt":"2025-11-27T12:38:34","slug":"whats-the-difference-between-domain-forwarding-and-masking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scalahosting.com\/kb\/whats-the-difference-between-domain-forwarding-and-masking\/","title":{"rendered":"Domain Forwarding vs Masking Difference"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you frequently visit the internet, you will notice that some URLs change to a new domain name or a different website after clicking on them. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But why is that? And how is it possible?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, <\/span>URL masking and forwarding have always been a thing on the internet.<\/b> Website owners use them to direct site visitors to a new domain name or website without spelling it out on the URL.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we will find out how this works. And the difference between domain masking and forwarding.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s get to it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Domain Forwarding?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Domain forwarding, also known as URL redirects, allows you to redirect your website visitors to a new website, domain, <\/span>subdomain<\/span><\/a>, or port.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, you have a new website on a different <\/span>web hosting<\/span><\/a> platform; you can redirect your previous web visitors to the new one. You could also use it to point your website visitors to your social media pages.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Domain forwarding can be done in <\/span>two different ways,<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. 301 redirects(permanent) and<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. 302 redirects (temporary)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The 301 redirects use a \u201c<\/span>301 Moved Permanently<\/b>\u201d HTTP response to redirect website visitors, including search engines, to a new domain or website that has been changed or moved permanently. However, 301 redirects can be removed at any time.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    On the other hand, the 302 redirects send a \u201c<\/span>302 Found<\/b>\u201d HTTP response to redirect your website visitors to a temporary page while still building or maintaining your site. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    However, the 301 redirects are best for SEO and would return about 90% of the old website\u2019s traffic. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Now that you know about the types of URL redirects, that brings us to the next port of call- domain forwarding types.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Types Of Domain Forwarding<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    When forwarding your domain, you could set your preferred forwarding type by choosing any of the following options below, and they are:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n