What is the Difference Between Domain Names and Website Hosting

Domain Names vs Websites

It is sometimes easy to be confused between the roles Domains and Hosting play.

It is very important to be clear on the differences between the two before you decide on your first Domain Name and Website.

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Simply put, a Domain Name is like the address of your home.

The Website is the actual house you live in.

What is a Domain Name

A domain name or URL is what a person enters in their Internet browser address bar to access a website.

And a domain name is the mechanism that helps identify and locate websites and resources connected to the Internet.

Domain names are a key part of the World Wide Web infrastructure. They provide a human-readable address for any website available on the Internet.

Domains are associated with a physical IP address that might look like this 198.122.434.80.

By using a Domain to identify a website on the Internet rather than the IP numbers will make it easier to remember and type the addresses into your browser.

How Domain Names Work

When you type a domain name into your browser, your computer sends a request to the Domain Name System (DNS), which is a global system that translates human-readable domain names into numerical IP addresses. These IP addresses are used by computers to communicate with each other over the internet.

In short, the domain name acts as a readable address that directs users to the correct server where your website’s content is hosted.

Why You Need a Domain Name

Having a domain name is crucial for your online brand identity. It makes your website more memorable and helps establish a professional presence. Without a domain name, your website would be difficult to find, as users would have to rely on a complicated IP address to access your site. A custom domain name not only helps with branding but also builds credibility and trust among visitors.

Registering a Domain Name

One of the greatest feature of a Domain is that it is unique, which is to say that no two websites can have the same domain name.

You will need to register a domain name that will then serve as your unique online address. Visitors will find you using this name by your website or even by a matching email.

When you register a Domain Name, it gives you sole ownership and rights to the name of your Website. No one else has the access to the actual Domain besides you.

Millions of domain names have already been registered, and it can be difficult to find a good domain that is still available. One suggestion is that you do not add on unnecessary words or use incorrect spelling just to find an available domain.

People need to be able to remember your Domain. You should aim for something that is short, easy to spell and catchy. Additionally, your domain will typically be a person’s first impression of your website, so you want something that will make them confident that they will find trustworthy content on your site.

If the domain name you want is already taken, remember that you can use a different domain extension than just .com.

There are hundreds of domain extensions available today, and they all work just the same as the .com. Some companies even register the more popular extensions of their domain name so that no one else can.

In our case, RSH Web Services Domains are.

rshweb.com
rshweb.net
rshweb.org
rshweb.biz
rshweb.us

What is Website Hosting

Web hosting or Websites is a collection of web pages stored on Web Servers which is accessed by a domain name.

After you created a website, you will need to store all of its files somewhere.

You would not want to store them on your home computer, this would be too slow and unreliable for today's demands.

This is where a good hosting company comes in. A web host will, as its name suggests, host all of your content (files, images, databases) for people to access over the Internet. Your website may be Digital, but its files still need to be stored on a physical hard drive (web server) and accessible on the Internet using a Browser.

There are many types of Web hosts, so you want to find the one that’s easiest for you to work with.

Some hosts offer Dedicated Servers, which used mostly for large companies.

Others offer Virtual Servers. These are Dedicated Servers broken up into smaller "Virtual" Servers. Less expensive than larger Servers.

Most websites are hosted on what we call Shared Web Hosting, which is just as it sounds. You share the space with other websites on a dedicated or virtual server.

Which type is best for you depends on how much traffic you anticipate having and how much extra room you need for files, Images, videos, databases.

Types of Website Hosting

There are several types of hosting options available, each with different levels of resources, performance, and features. The most common types include:

• • Shared Hosting: This is the most affordable hosting option, where your website shares server resources with other websites. While this is cost-effective, it can lead to slower speeds if other sites on the server experience high traffic.
• • VPS Hosting: Virtual Private Server hosting offers more resources and better performance than shared hosting. It still involves sharing a server, but you get a dedicated portion of the server's resources.
• • Dedicated Hosting: With dedicated hosting, you get an entire server to yourself. This is ideal for websites with high traffic, as it offers the best performance, security, and customization options.
• • Cloud Hosting: Cloud hosting stores your website across multiple servers, providing greater scalability and flexibility. It’s ideal for websites that experience varying traffic loads.
• • Managed WordPress Hosting: This type of hosting is specifically designed for WordPress websites, offering automatic updates, security features, and optimized performance.

We have listed a few of the different types of Websites.

Personal Websites
Weblogs - Blogs
Online Diaries
Business Card Website
Portfolio Website
Social Networking Website
Product Brochure Website
Company or Organization Website
Ecommerce Website
Search Engines
Forums

Why You Need Website Hosting

Without website hosting, your domain name would lead to an error page, as there would be no server to host your website files. Hosting Services ensure that your website is available 24/7, providing the necessary resources for smooth and fast performance.

Hosting is essential for website functionality, as it allows all your website’s content to be accessed by users worldwide. Whether you're running a small blog or a large e-commerce site, reliable hosting ensures your website is always up and accessible.

How Domain Names and Website Hosting Work Together

A domain name and website hosting work hand in hand to make your website accessible on the internet.

• • Domain Name Registration: You start by purchasing a domain name, which gives your website a unique address.
• • Website Hosting: After securing a domain name, you need to choose a hosting provider where your website files will be stored.
• • DNS Configuration: Once you have both a domain name and hosting, you need to configure the DNS settings. This tells the domain where to find the server hosting your website. Without this configuration, your domain name will not connect to the right server.

Both components are essential for your website’s visibility. The domain name allows users to find your site, while hosting ensures that the site’s content is available to them.

Functionality

• • Domain Name: Without a domain name, users would have to remember a complicated string of numbers (IP address) to visit your website, making navigation difficult.
• • Website Hosting: Hosting enables your website to be operational and accessible by storing your website files on a server.

Ownership and Registration

• • Domain Name: Domain names are registered through domain registrars and are owned for a specific period (typically one year), after which they need to be renewed. You have control over the domain name for as long as you keep the registration active.
• • Website Hosting: Hosting is a service that you rent from hosting providers. You typically pay for hosting on a monthly or yearly basis, but you don’t own the server; you simply rent the space.

Costs Involved

• • Domain Name: Domain names are generally affordable, with prices ranging from $10 to $50 per year, depending on the domain extension (e.g., .com, .org, .net).
  RSH Web Services domains for .com is about $15 per year for a .com. But free with all hosting packages - for life
• • Website Hosting: Hosting costs vary greatly based on the type of hosting you choose. Shared hosting can cost as little as $3 to $40 per month, while dedicated hosting can cost $100 or more per month.
  RSH Web Services hosting starts at $2.99

Summary

Understanding the difference between domain names and website hosting is crucial when creating a website. A domain name is your website’s address on the internet, while website hosting provides the space for your website files to live and be accessed by visitors. Both are essential for creating a functional and professional online presence. By selecting the right domain name and hosting provider, you can ensure that your website is accessible, reliable, and scalable.

Now that you know the basics, you’re ready to choose the domain name and hosting service that best suits your website’s needs. Happy building!

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