What is URL framing?

URL framing (also known as URL masking or domain masking) is a function which allows you to mask or frame any destination web page with your domain name. It is a good way of pointing a domain name without associated hosting at an active website. One advantage of this method over URL redirection is that visitors to your domain name will still see your domain name in the address bar instead of the actual destination URL once forwarded to your website.

Here's an example:

http://www.yourdomainname.com displays the content from http://www.yourdomainname.co.uk whilst still showing http://www.yourdomainname.com in the address bar.

URL framing is also known as URL Masking, Stealth Redirection or URL Hiding.

Who should use URL framing / URL Masking?

This is often used by those who cannot afford full professional hosting. It allows you to personally brand a web site located in space allocated for free by third parties. For example if your ISP provides you with web space as part of your provision you could purchase a domain name and point it at that space.

URL framing is useful because it allows you to choose a more memorable domain name for your free website so that your intended audience can find you without having to remember an awkward and difficult to remember subfolder name (often ~username) within a third-party hosting address.

Here's an example:

http://www.yourdomainname.com frames the content at http://www.examplefreehostingcompany.com/~username/index.html

The technique works particularly well with websites that have long URLs, like the ones typically associated with free hosting.

Is URL framing the best solution for my web site?

URL masking is no substitute for a fully hosted professional website. Hosting packages are available on here provided by Choose-Hosting start at just £35.95 per year for personal users and £55.95 for business users, so high quality professional hosting should be accessable and within the budget of most people. However if you really can't afford hosting then URL masking might be just what you need. URL forwarding is FREE with all domain names purchased (or renewed) through Choose-a-Domain. If you want advice on choosing a free host please contact us and we'll be happy to make recommendations.

How do I set-up a URL frame?

If you are an existing client and you have already purchased your domain name, then the information on the set-up URL frame page will show you step by step how to set-up a URL framing for your domain. Don't forget DNS Management for domains registered or renewed through Choose-a-Domain.com is 100% FREE!

How much does URL masking cost?

Although some companies make a charge for URL framing Choose-a-Domain isn't one of them. URL masking is a 100% FREE option with all domains purchased through Choose-a-Domain.com.

How does URL framing work?

In case of URL Masking or URL Framing our server sends your client or customer a Frames page where the Frame Source contains the destination URL you have specified. The frame fills 100% of the screen. This ensures that the URL in the address bar of the browser does not change though the client sees the destination page. This allows you to take advantage of free web space provided from ISPs or Content providers like Yahoo, Geocities, Tripod, etc.

Where can I put my Page Title and META Tags for the Frames Page?

Remember

Things to remember about URL Framing:

• URL Framing only takes a few seconds to set-up and is easy to do. For further instructions see set-up URL frame.
• URL Framing is almost instantanious. Please remember that you need an active Web page as the frame destination.
• URL Framing requires you to be using our domain name servers. If you've change the DNS info associated with your domain name to servers other than those of Choose-a-Domain, you will not be able to activate URL framing.
• URL Framing doesn't cost anything to set-up and the URL framing service offered by Choose-a-Domain will remain completely free to use so long as you have the domain name registered with Choose-a-Domain.

If you still have any questions why not look at the Choose-a-Domain FAQ / Knowledgebase to discover more information about URL Redirection or URL Framing.