A Search Console property defines which URLs a site owner sees data for in Google Search Console. There are two types, the domain property and the URL-prefix property.
What is the difference?
- Domain property (for example
example.com): covers the domain with all subdomains and all protocols, http and https. Google requires DNS verification for it, unless the domain is hosted on a Google product. - URL-prefix property (for example
https://example.com/): covers only URLs that start with exactly this prefix, including the protocol. Several verification methods are available.
A domain property for example.com includes http://example.com, https://example.com and http://m.example.com. A URL-prefix property for https://example.com/pets/ includes only URLs that begin with that string. http://example.com/pets/ does not match because the protocol differs. Different protocols or subdomains therefore need separate URL-prefix properties.
A prefix with a path limits the data to one section of a site. A search console account can hold up to 1,000 properties, according to Google.
Example
A site serves visitors on www.example.com and shop.example.com. One domain property shows both together. Two URL-prefix properties show them separately. (Invented example.)
Sources
- Add a website property to Search Console – Search Console Helpsupport.google.com
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