---
title: "Overview on testing programs on your account"
description: "If you have an existing website and are thinking about switching to another type of program, it is a good idea to test different programs without interfering with your existing site. You can do this..."
url: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/website/test-programs/
date: 2013-04-02
modified: 2021-08-16
author: "Scott Mitchell"
categories: ["Website"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Overview on testing programs on your account

If you have an existing website and are thinking about switching to another type of program, it is a good idea to test different programs without interfering with your existing site. You can do this by installing the program you want to test into a subfolder. Once you have installed the program you can build a new copy of your site without interfering with your current one. Eventually, you can then move your site to replace the main site. Below is a quick guide on how to set this up.

## What is a subfolder?

A subfolder is a division of your site that typically houses files of a specific type or purpose. For instance, some people place all of their site pictures in a folder named *images* so that they are in *https://example.com/images*. They can also be used to house separate functions of a site, such as a shopping area and be located in a place such as *https://example.com/store*. For the purposes of this article, you will be learning to install a program into a subfolder so you can test the program and/or build a new version of your site. You will access this area with a URL similar to *https://example.com/wordpress* or *https://example.com/joomla*.

## What is a subdomain?

A subdomain is very similar to a subfolder. In the account, it is structured exactly as a subfolder. The difference is how it is accessed in the address bar of your web browser. A subfolder is accessed as we discussed above (example.com/store) where a subdomain is part of a domain and the name is in front of the main domain (*test.example.com* or *store.example.com*). You can assign a subdomain as layed out in our article [Creating a Subdomain in cPanel](/support/edu/cpanel/creating-a-subdomain/).

## Installing programs into a subfolder

Using the [Softaculous installer tool](/support/product-guides/softaculous/install-software-softaculous/), you can install a new program onto your hosting account. Each program in the Softaculous tool has its own installation screen. On this screen there is a field that allows you to choose a specific subfolder to install the program into. Generally, this folder name cannot already exist as it will be created during the installation of the program. Be sure to give it a name that you will remember so you can use it as your testing platform. The sample image shows the installation screen for the WordPress program.

[![sample directory assignment](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/edu_testing-programs_sample-install.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/edu_testing-programs_sample-install.png)

The setting entitled **In Directory** is where you enter the name of the folder. In our example, it is named *wp*. This means the wordpress program will be located at *https://example.com/wp* while the regular website still exists at *https://example.com*

## Installing programs into a subdomain

[![sample subdomain assignment](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/edu_testing-programs_subdomain-install.png)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/edu_testing-programs_subdomain-install.png)

When using [Softaculous to install](/support/product-guides/softaculous/install-software-softaculous/) a program into a subdomain, it is a bit different than when installing into a subfolder. Unlike the subfolder, the [subdomain must already exist](/support/edu/cpanel/creating-a-subdomain/). You also will not need to assign a subfolder for installation. Our sample image shows WordPress being installed into a subdomain named *test*. Notice that the **Choose Domain** has the *test* subdomain selected and the **In Directory** field is empty. The WordPress installation will be accessible at *https://test.example.com*. As with the subfolder installation, the original website will still be available at *https://example.com*.

## Summary

Regardless of which method you choose, you may install different test programs in this manner so you can test and try them out to see which one is best for you. This way you do not have to completely build a new site before discovering you like another program better or that the one you have just does not do what you want.