Just recently I have had a lot of people ask me about domain names and website hosting. I’m not real sure why, but there seems to be a lot of confusion as to what domain names and web hosting are and what functions they perform. In this article I will do my best to explain what these things are, how they work, and do so with minimal technical jargon. With that being said, I am going to admit that I am a somewhat of nerd. So, consider this a mediocre disclaimer.
Before I get into anything specific I should point out that domain names and website hosting work together; they go hand in hand. If you are planning to build a website it is in your best interest to purchase both at the same time. Okay, with that being said, let’s get down to business.
Why do I need web hosting?
Are you planning on creating a website? If you are, then web hosting is a must. Web hosting is where your website files are stored on the internet and allows people to access the content you are providing online.
What is web hosting and what does it do?
When you purchase web hosting you are actually purchasing an allotment of hard disk space and bandwidth from a provider’s web server. The provider gives you Name Server records and an IP address to where those files are hosted on their server. You upload your website files to your hosting space to make them available on the internet.
Why do I need a domain name?
If you are planning to build a website you need a domain name. A domain name is what you see in your address bar above. For example, on this website the domain name is RyanDesmond.com. This creates an easily identifiable way for your online visitors to find you on the internet.
What does a domain name do?
A domain name points to an IP address of a server that hosts the files of a website. In the computer world everything boils down to numbers. Websites on the internet are actually IP Addresses. For example, when you go to Google.com you are actually visiting IP address 74.125.45.106. In the most basic terms, a domain name is simply a pointer to an IP address. I don’t know about you, but it is easier for me to remember Google.com than to remember 74.125.45.106 every time I need to search for something.
How do I use a domain name?
You can use a domain one of two ways. As you now know (from reading the above), a domain name is really just a pointer. So, when you purchase a domain name you can do one of two things with it. You can point your purchased domain name to an existing website or you can point the domain name to your web hosting account that “houses” your website files.
How do I purchase a domain name and hosting?
Purchasing domain names and hosting is easy. For domain names, you simply go to a domain registrant such as GoDaddy.com and search for available domain names. Once you find an available domain name of your liking simply add it to your online shopping cart. The next step is to purchase a hosting plan. Select the plan that works best for you and proceed to checkout. That’s it!
Now you have a domain name and hosting ready and available for a website.
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desmond hosting,
domain names,
web hosting