Technical Definition
Subdomain structure uses prefixes for international versions: fr.example.com, de.example.com. Google treats subdomains somewhat separately from main domain, so authority may not consolidate as well as subdirectories. Can be easier for separate teams to manage. Requires hreflang implementation. Less common than subdirectories for new implementations.
Simple Explanation (ELI13)
Using subdomains for international SEO means having fr.yoursite.com for French or de.yoursite.com for German. Google treats subdomains as somewhat separate from your main site, so you might not get as much authority benefit as subdirectories. But it can be easier if different teams manage different versions.
Related Terms
International SEO, Hreflang, Subdirectory, Site Structure
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