What are the differences between a la puerta y en la puerta?

Question

Are they the same?

Answer 1

"En la puerta" also means at the door.

"José está en la puerta" => He is at/by the door.

Thanks Dualg. Something else I have learnt. - Eddy, Jun 20, 2012

You are welcome, Eddy. - DualG, Jun 21, 2012

Answer 2

Alguien llama a la puerta - Somebody's knocking at the door.

Edit:

En la puerta also means at the door.

Thanks DualG

Answer 3

There's a slight difference in meaning between the two phrases:

“Él estaba a la puerta (de la casa)” means “He was at the door (of the house)”

“Él estaba en la puerta de la casa” means “He stood in the doorway of the house”

Answer 4

So,they mean the same? Both mean at the door?

Yes. - Eddy, Jun 21, 2012