The first thing anyone would do to launch a website or web app is to purchase a good domain name and web hosting package together. Without these two things, a website won't have an identity or existence on the internet.
So, one way or another, thinking about domain names and web hosting is undeniably important if you are planning to build a new site. However, when web development and management are common, people mix up these two wholly different things and make a mess.
Thus, let's try to melt the ice from the debate, domain vs hosting today. Here is all the detailed information you need to know about domain name and web host so that you can have a translucent concept on the matter and start making your website with a good start.
In your browser's address bar, when you put the address of a website, you could see a part after www. This specific part is unique and different from all other active addresses. It carries the identity of the website of what it belongs to. So Internet surfers across the world can get access or identify a website or web app right by that part of the web address. This so-called unique portion is what we all call a website domain name.
In short, a domain name is what represents the owning website by its relevancy and uniqueness.
Suppose you are trying to bring your business online. What would you do? Surely, you'd try to purchase domain names for the official website or personal websites similar to the business, right?
If that's the case, then let's spin another question, why'd you pick a domain name from available domain databases relevant to your company website name or activities? Again, we think the answer is nothing except to let internet users find you among millions of other websites to create your site's own identity.
There are a lot of top-level domains, or TLDs, available on the internet. The most common are .com, .net, and .org. Also, there are some cheap website domains such as .mobi, .store, etc.
These are the domain name extensions that use at the last of the domain, such as .com, .net, and .org. There are 22 gTLDs, but only a handful are used most often.
For commercial use, ".com" is the most popular domain extension. It's been around since 1985 and is the oldest gTLD. .net is the second most popular gTLD and is used for websites that provide internet services, such as web hosting and domain registration.
The organization or consortium sponsoring the sTLD is responsible for setting policy and managing the domain.
The use of sponsored top-level domains is not limited to commercial organizations. For example, .mil is used by the US military to create their unique identity. And, .gov is used by any government office.
It is an Internet domain extension that is used to identify a country or a territory.
And, it has two specific letter codes based on country and territory. For example, .us means it is an American website and, .uk means it is a British website. Sometimes it used second-level domain extension.
ccTLDs are administered by the country's national registry. In most cases, the registry is also the operator of the corresponding top-level domain.
It is the newest top-level domain that is striving to become popular. And, It would be delegated to the root zone and would be used to identify resources related to the infrastructure of the internet, such as Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs), and Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
The infrastructure TLD would be administered by ICANN, and anyone can register.
First of all, you'll need to decide on a domain name from domain checker tools. There is no limit to the maximum period for domain registration, but you can also register a custom domain with a minimum period of one year from domain registrars.
You have to register a domain using your personal information. This information will be used to create your domain's WHOIS record, which is a public database of all domain owners. However, you can turn on domain privacy protection to pretend information leaks.
Choosing a perfect domain name can be one of the most important steps in establishing your brand or business.
Next up, it's time to discuss what is hosting.
Speaking straight, web hosting is something that gives ground to websites on the internet. Hosting services actually host domain names attached to websites to perform and respond to users.
When you are done with the things like domain registration, you are given the option to choose a web hosting to host domain name via DNS setting.
Before choosing any web host, consider the following factors to ensure the best quality service that suits you the most.
User-Friendliness
Some web hosts are more user-friendly than others. Some make it easy to find information, while others are not as clear. You want to make sure that the hosting service provider you choose has a website that is easy to navigate. Their customer service should also be good. If you have any questions or problems, you should be able to get help quickly.
Server Speed and Uptime
The server speed is how quickly the server can send the pages to your computer. You want to make sure that the pages are loading quickly so that your visitors do not get frustrated and leave your site. You can test the server speed by using a tool like Pingdom or WebPage Test.
Pricing and Plans
The most important factor to consider when choosing a web hosting plan is what type of website you plan to create. If you are creating a small website with a few pages, you may get by with a free hosting plan. However, if you create a larger website with a lot of content, you will need a more robust hosting plan that includes more storage and bandwidth.
Customer Service
Some web hosts provide excellent customer service, while others do not. You should take the time to read reviews of different web hosts to get an idea of how they treat their customers.
There are four types of web hosting available by hosting providers. The most common are shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting.
It is a hosting where multiple websites share space to host websites in a cheap price range.
In order to host a website at a cheap price range, several websites share a single CPU, memory, and disk space.
Usually, it's called starter hosting to get started with something cheap while your website has a small amount of traffic.
This gives you your server root access. This means you can install any software you want and customize your server to your own needs.
VPS hosting is the perfect alternative to dedicated hosting while you don't want to pay a high price tag to purchase dedicated hosting yet experience a similar service.
From the name, dedicated hosting is dedicated to one single person.
Sometimes it used to host a single website when you are getting massive traffic.
However, there are a lot of CPU and disk space options that you have to pick based on your traffic.
And, it is ideal for businesses that require a lot of storage space or bandwidth or for businesses that have high-traffic websites.
In addition, a dedicated server is capable of hosting multiple websites.
It is a model of web hosting where data and applications are stored in remote servers, accessed over the internet.
The term "cloud" refers to the fact that the services are provided using a remote network of servers, which gives cloud hosting users the illusion of using a single large server.
This setup allows for easy scalability, as businesses can add or remove resources as their needs change.
There are plenty of web hosting service providers available where you can get your desired web hosting. And you can follow these steps to buy web hosting services.
The confusion between domain names and web hosting usually comes from registering a domain name and then looking for a web hosting company. They think that the web hosting company provides the domain name, but this is not the case. The domain name registration is for creating an identity, and hosting is for storing website data.
The domain name and web hosting are two integral aspects of any website. The domain name is the web address or URL of a website, and the hosting is the service that stores the website's files and makes them accessible to users over the internet.
When you register a domain name, you are essentially renting the use of that name from a domain name registrar. The registrar reserves the right to make the name available to other users if you do not renew your registration.
Hosting is a service that stores the website's files on a web server and makes them accessible to users over the internet. Hosting can be provided by a web hosting company or by the registrar who sells you the domain name.
If you want a lot of control over your website and you're willing to spend a little money, buying a domain name and setting up your web hosting is the best option. If you're not comfortable with coding or website development or don't expect a lot of website traffic, using a free web hosting service may be a better option.
So, here we are, at the end of our discussion. But before concluding our thoughts on domain name and web hosting, let's make a thing clear once again.
Both domain and hosting have interrelating factors between them. That's why focusing equally on both sections is important to make sure the website that is going to be made has a unique address matching with the brand name and a supportive host to perform flawlessly.
Do I have to buy a domain & hosting together? Or can I buy them separately?
Domain and hosting can be bought separately, but it's often more convenient to buy them together. The domain name is a unique name or identity for your business. And hosting is where you store your data. So, when you buy hosting, you're typically also buying a domain name.
Is there any advantage of buying domain & hosting separately?
If you're looking for the best deal on each, or you want more control over your website, then buying them separately may be the right option for you; if you're not sure whether or not to buy the domain and to host separately, speak with a hosting provider to get more advice.
Can I change my hosting company without changing the domain name?
No, don't need to change your domain name while changing hosting company. However, update your DNS settings from the domain control panel to connect with new hosting.
Can I host my website?
Yes, it is possible. And, you do it in several ways. For example, you can use a web hosting company to host your website for you, or you can use a service like WordPress.com or Blogger to host your website for free. You can also purchase a domain name and set up your web server. However, setting up and maintaining your website can be a lot of work, and it can be expensive to buy and maintain your web server.
How much does it cost to host a website?
The cost to host a website can vary depending on the size and type of website and the hosting company you choose. Generally, website hosting costs between $5 and $75 per month.
