If you own a business, or are in the process of starting one, you are more likely to need a website. Regardless of the scope of your business and the size of your business, building a page to present you online is useful for any company.
Today, almost anyone can create their own website, regardless of whether they have the necessary technical skills. There are many different platforms and tools that can help you create a website from scratch. And if you are looking for a more personalized design and additional features, developing a business website according to your specific needs remains an advantage.
But when it comes to creating a website, many people fail to understand the difference between a domain and hosting. Do we need a domain? Or from hosting? Do you need both to build a successful website?
In this article we will explain what a domain is, what hosting is and how they differ from each other
What is a domain?
A domain (or domain name) is the address that users type into a browser to visit a particular website. Think of it as your digital address, which is easy to find from other computers with Internet access. In short, a domain is the name of your website.
The domain of a website consists of two main elements. To explain them more easily, let's look at Google.com, where the first element is the name of the website - Google, and the second is its extension - .com. There are many different domain extensions, but some of the most commonly used are:
.com (commercial) .org (organization) .net (network) .eu (European Union)
In order to use a domain, it must be registered. Each domain name must be unique, as no two websites with the same name can exist.
When you buy a new domain, you decide which server to point to. And here comes the hosting.
What is hosting?
Hosting is the process of renting or buying space for your website on the World Wide Web. If the domain is your digital address, then the hosting is your digital home to which this address points.
Web hosting is a service offered by many companies that have permission to publish websites online. When a hosting provider takes space on the web to store files on a web page, it hosts a website. This makes the content of the website available for viewing by users on the web. That is, if a user wants to visit your page, all he has to do is enter the domain of your website in one of the Internet browsers. Then, their computer will connect to the server on which your site is uploaded and will receive the necessary web pages through the browser.
If you are planning to establish and build an online presence for your business, having reliable hosting is essential. Choosing the right hosting for your website depends mainly on how you plan to use your website. There are various web hosting services, but here are four of the most purchased among site owners:
Shared hosting - this plan means that you share both a physical server and some software applications with other website owners Dedicated hosting - this type of hosting is a private plan where you get the full server and do not have to share with other users, but on the other hand, the cost of this type of service is higher Cloud Hosting - This plan allows you to automatically increase or decrease server resources based on your website traffic without having to think about infrastructure VPS hosting - also called virtual private server is perfect for people who need more than a shared plan, but still do not require a dedicated server
These are just some of the hosting services you can find on the market. When choosing hosting, the number one priority remains fast loading of your site, especially if you want to attract organic traffic and plan to optimize your page for search engines (SEO).
Most hosting companies require you to own a domain in order to host with them. If you do not have a domain or do not know how to choose the right hosting for your needs, we will help you launch your site.
What is the difference between domain and hosting?
Domain and hosting can sound like confusing concepts to those unfamiliar with the technical side of creating a website. This is because they are closely related. It is for this reason that it is important to understand the difference between them before launching your first website.
The key difference is that a domain is a unique web address that helps people reach a particular site, while hosting is the place where that site is stored and public.
to be accessible to users from anywhere in the world. That is, if your site was a real store to find its location / address, your customers would use your domain. But in order to enter your store, see what you have to offer and buy your products, they will need access to the content provided by your web hosting.
Do you need both to have a website?
If you understand how a domain and hosting work, you probably already know the answer to this question.
Although domain and hosting perform different functions, they work together to make your website part of the web. Every successful website needs both. This is because without an existing domain, online users will not be able to find your website, and without web hosting your site will not be shown to them. Therefore, behind each domain name, there is a hosting that gives access to the content of the site associated with this address.
What if the domain we want is already taken?
If you've found the perfect name, but it's already taken, you have several alternatives:
Find the domain owner and purchase the name
Like any other property, domain names are bought, sold and auctioned. Therefore, before you write off your dream domain name, you can try to contact the owner and make a deal to buy the domain you want. The chances of this happening are slim, as most people are not interested in selling the domain names they own. And even if that happens, the owner may sell you the name at too high a price.
Choose another domain extension
If you can't buy the perfect name for your website, the easiest way is to use a different high-level extension. Users trust .com the most, but there are other alternatives such as .uk, .net, .eu and .org.
Make small name changes
In case the ideal domain is simply unattainable, you can experiment with different combinations until you find an acceptable name that you like. If all the obvious domains are already taken, you can try using an abbreviated variation of your business name, but nothing prevents you from adding some of your keywords. Make sure your name is not too long and easy to remember.
Domain registration and the purchase of reliable web hosting are absolutely mandatory to make your site visible in the web space. Although they perform different functions, both are vital to each site.
If you do not know which solution is ideal for you, do not hesitate and seek help! Our team will be happy to assist you.
Nadejda Milanova
An experienced Content creator in the field of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and WordPress. A true proffesional with a Master's degree focused on journalism.
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