Introduction

Understanding the differences between site collections and subsites is essential for effective SharePoint management. This article compares site collections and subsites, highlighting their use cases and differences.

1. Definition and Structure

Site Collection: A top-level container that includes a main site and one or more subsites. Each site collection is independent and has its own content database.
Subsite: A site created within a site collection. Subsites are hierarchical and inherit settings from their parent site.
2. Permissions and Security

Site Collection: Offers independent security settings and permissions. Permissions are managed at the site collection level and can be more granular.
Subsite: Permissions are inherited from the parent site but can be customized for individual subsites.
3. 윈도메인 and Scalability

Site Collection: Provides better performance and scalability by distributing content across multiple collections. Suitable for large-scale environments.
Subsite: May impact performance if there are many subsites or if subsites are heavily used. Suitable for smaller, more integrated scenarios.
4. Customization and Features

Site Collection: Allows for independent feature activation and customization. Each site collection can have its own set of features and templates.
Subsite: Inherits features and settings from the parent site but can have additional customizations.
5. Use Cases

Site Collection: Ideal for organizing content based on business units, departments, or projects. Provides greater flexibility and isolation.
Subsite: Suitable for smaller, related sites within a larger site collection. Useful for hierarchical content organization.
Conclusion

Site collections and subsites serve different purposes in SharePoint. Site collections offer better performance, scalability, and independent management, while subsites provide hierarchical organization and inherited settings. Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right approach for your SharePoint environment.