Creating a development or staging environment allows you to perform tests of a live environment that could potentially affect or crash a website entirely.
By using a staging environment, it allows you to test new website updates, PHP version compatibility, updating themes or plugins, and more.
The staging environment is an exact replicate of the website files, databases, and server settings.
Step 1 (a) - Logging into cPanel directly
You can log in directly to your cPanel account by using your domain name followed by /cPanel in the URL.
e.g - https://domainname.co.uk/cpanel (Note, please change domainname.co.uk to your own domain name)
Step 1 (b) - Logging into cPanel via the Client Portal
Once logged in to your client portal, click on the "Services" tab and then "My Services". Select the "active" button (under the "Status" column) for the service you wish to update.
On the left-hand side, you will see the "Overview" section. Click on "Login to cPanel".
Step 2 - Create a sub-domain in cPanel
Once logged into cPanel, scroll down until you find the "Domains" section, and click on "Optimize Website".
