What's the difference between www & public_html folder?

Question

What's the difference between the www & public_html folder on the same server on my shared linux hosting. I've seen data is same on both of these folders. Is one of them just a redirect or is the data getting replicated. What is the purpose of 2 folders or even a redirect folder?

Thanks in advance! :)

It depends entirely on the local configuration; ask your hosting provider. — Insyte, Mar 29 '10 at 21:28

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 29 '10 at 21:30

The primary difference would be a preference between naming conventions and how your hosting service configured it. I have typically used public_html for user directories and often www for system-wide but that's more a personal convention.

In all likelihood, there is no difference but we can't speak for an arbitrary configuration.

score 1 · Answer 2 · edited Oct 22 '11 at 12:10

1

Usually the www folder is simply a symbolic link of public_html.

edited Oct 22 '11 at 12:10

yossale

115
6

answered Mar 29 '10 at 21:56

djs596

64
2

A mirror? What, using more disk-space? That seems highly unlikely. – Phil P Mar 29 '10 at 23:31
3

I think he means symbolic link. – Mar 30 '10 at 00:30
My mistake, typing quickly without thinking. Everyone makes mistakes. More like "mirrors" - ie same content, not literally. – djs596 Mar 30 '10 at 15:10

What's the difference between www & public_html folder?

2 Answers2

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