Have you ever asked yourself what is the actual difference between web hosting and domain?
You are not the only one who is new to the world of websites. These terms confuse many beginners, and it is easy to understand why they are all the same thing, yet they do entirely different things. We will dissect the distinctions and demystify the myths surrounding domains and hosting in this complete guide and address the biggest questions of all.
At the final stage, you will be brave enough to take your first steps into the world of the Internet with the knowledge supported by experts and with the tips.
What is a Domain Name?
It would be best to begin with the fundamentals: what is a domain in web hosting, and why you need one.
A domain name serves as the human-friendly, unique name you enter into your browser to access a website, and you can think of it as the online version of a street address for your house. In the case of www.example.com, the domain name is example.com. It is easy to remember, and you do not need to know a sequence of numbers (an IP address) to visit a site every time you want to do it.
Key Points about Domain Names:
- They are unique; no two sites can share the same domain simultaneously.
- They are typically a second-level domain (such as example) overlaid on a top-level domain (TLD) such as .com, .org, or .net.
- You obtain a domain via a domain registrar, and you need to renew the domain regularly in order to maintain ownership.
Analogy:
When your site is a house, the address is the domain name you use to direct people to your place.
What is Web Hosting?
Now, we are going to address the next big question: What is Web hosting, and how does it work?
Web hosting is an internet service that provides the storage and accessibility of your website files, including images, text, and code on the internet. When a person comes to your domain name, the web hosting service delivers the information on your website to his or her machine.
Types of web hosting include:
- Shared Hosting: It has more than one site that is on the same server. It is inexpensive and applicable to small locations.
- VPS Hosting: A virtual server is subdivided into a server with more resources and control.
- Dedicated Hosting: You rent a full server to run your site for websites with high or excessive traffic.
- Cloud Hosting is based on the use of a pool of servers in order to be scalable and reliable.
Analogy:
The land or building that the house is built on is known as the web hosting in case the site is a house.
Why does hosting matter?
The hosting would have an impact on the speed, uptime, security, and spike traffic capacity of your website. As an example, a slow host will push people away, whilst a reliable host will make your site remain operational and secure.
How Domain and Hosting Work?
It is at this point that things get interesting: What has to do with domain names and web hosting that address your site? Or what is a web hosting domain?
When a person enters your domain name in his/her browser, the following happens:
- The browser is asking the Domain Name System (DNS) to translate the domain into an IP address, which is the distinctive identifier of your hosting server.
- This browser, in turn, identifies with the hosting server having such an IP address.
- The browser responds to the server with the files on your site, and your visitor sees your site.
In short:
- The address is the domain name.
- DNS is similar to the GPS, translating an address to coordinates.
- The house at the coordinates is the hosting server.
Is it possible to have one and not the other?
- Hostless in a domain, only an address with no house visitors looks at a blank page.
- Serving without a domain will be a house without an address; people will have to know the IP of the server, and that is not a viable option.
Clarifying Most Common Myths
To clarify a few of the most widespread myths about the difference between web hosting and domain:
1. Hosting of residential and domain names is the same.
Fact: They have various functions. Your domain is the internet address of your site, while hosting gives space to store your files.
2. They must be bought together with the same supplier.
Fact: They can be purchased in isolation, though; it might be easier to install one provider to facilitate the installation of the other.
3. You have a domain, and it is yours to have.
Fact: Domains are not owned, they are rented. You have to refresh them regularly.
4. The space name has an impact on the speed of the sites.
Fact: Your hosting has performance as a characteristic, but not your domain. However, an excellent domain may be helpful in branding and SEO.
5. With the loss of hosting, you lose your domain.
Fact: They are addressed individually. Even in the case of lapsing of your hosting, you can keep your domain.
FAQs
Q. Can I buy hosting for a domain, or vice versa?
Ans. Yes, but you need both to create a site. It is possible to switch DNS and host one provider on a different provider.
Q. What happens to me and my domain when it expires or my hosting package is exhausted?
Ans. Other people can also claim the name of your site when your domain expires. Your web page will be removed in case of your hosting termination, but you will retain your domain, on the condition of renewal.
Q. What is the price of registering a domain and hosting a website?
Ans. Registration of a domain name usually costs 9.99 to 20 USD/per year at hostyd.org, and hosting may be as little as a few dollars per month with shared hosting or as much as hundreds of dollars per month with dedicated servers. Always look at renewal rates and bundling services.
Q. Will I require technical expertise to operate my domain or my hosting?
Ans. The majority of providers provide an easy-to-use dashboard, though some rudimentary knowledge of DNS and web management is useful. Tutorials and support are also available on many hosts.
Final Thoughts
The first step to creating a successful online presence is to understand the difference between web hosting and domain names. Imagine your domain is the address of your site, and your hosting is the house in which your content resides. They are both essential, and a combination of the two is the source of your digital identity.
Are you willing to give it a go and create your own site?