Domain hosting and name are two different things. Earlier there were very few websites and thus people managed to type in complex IP addresses to search for a particular web page but as the number of websites across the internet grew the need for domain hosting also increased.
Read along to find out the difference between domain name and hosting, what is domain hosting, how it works and clear every doubt and confusion you have regarding domain hosting.
What is Domain Hosting?
Domain hosting is a service which makes your website available to the users across the internet. It is like a home where your website stays. It is different from domain names. Domain name is a website’s address whereas hosting is the place where it lives. It stores your website’s files and makes it available online. Without a hosting service, your domain name will be any empty web address and it will have no content to display.
There are multiple web hosting companies that provide hosting services and work 24/7 to keep your site live. Domain hosting from a good hosting service provider is essential for ensuring that your website is easily accessible, secure and performs smoothly without any server or technical issues.
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What is a Domain Name?
A domain name is a unique name that people enter in their browser (Chrome,Safari, etc.) and visit your website. For example, Google’s domain is www.google.com. It should be unique but easy to remember so that people can easily visit your site whenever they wish to. If you want your domain name to be visible on SERP and let people visit then you have to purchase a hosting from domain registrar.
As compared to the earlier IP addresses, people can easily memorize it . You can choose any name of your choice which best suits your business, service or purpose for which you are creating your website. The only condition is that the name should be available which means that no existing business or service provider should have it registered.
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How does Domain Hosting work?
It is essential that you get domain hosting to ensure that site works well across the web. Let’s have a look at the steps followed in the working of the domain hosting process.
1. Storing your website’s data
When you purchase a hosting, all of the data from your website is stored and saved on the server. The server can be physical or cloud-based. A good hosting makes sure that there is enough space, power and capacity to handle your website as it will grow and drive more traffic.
2. Directing visitors to your site (DNS)
The Domain Name System (DNS) connects your domain name to the server where your website’s data is stored. DNS translates your domain name into an IP address which guides visitors to the server where your site is hosted. It is like an online phonebook (people can find numbers), where people can easily and quickly find your website.
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3. Delivering your content
Whenever someone searches for your domain and visits your website, the hosting server sends the website data to their browser which shows them everything that is there on your website. Therefore, it is necessary to purchase hosting from a good company because it will impact the page loading speed and overall performance of your site.
4. Keeping your site secure
You might have noticed that while visiting some sites through your browser, there is an icon with a text showing ‘Not secure’. A good hosting service always adds protection service certificates like Principal Component Analysis certificates, firewalls to make the website secure and safe to use.
5. Backups and recovery
In the cases of server crash or cyber attack, regular backups can help you recover your websites quickly without losing important and confidential data. However it can affect the site’s ranking based on the level of cyber attack but backed up data can help you restore without suffering much loss.
6. Monitoring and support
Hosting companies work 24/7 and keep your site live. They also provide customer support service to fix technical issues and keep your site running smoothly.
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How to Set Up a Domain?
If you are thinking of getting a new domain for the first time, here’s a step-by-step guide you can follow by which you can set up your own domain just within a few minutes.
Step 1: Choose your Domain Name
The first step is to choose a domain name for your website. This will be the name your website will be known from. Make sure it is easy to remember, spell and pronounce. It should be related to your brand, business or services you offer.
For extensions you get options like .com, .in, .site, .org, .net, etc. There are some newer top level domains like .shop and .blog, you can choose according to the type of site you are purchasing hosting for.
Step 2: Select a domain hosting provider
A domain hosting provider stores all of your site’s data and makes it visible to the user when they visit your website. Make sure to choose the right platform for getting the hosting as the speed, accessibility and many other factors are dependent on your hosting server. Some of the options you can consider while getting a hosting are:
- Hostinger (Cheaper, saves money)
- BlueHost (Good for WordPress websites, provides easy set-up)
- SiteGround (Extra security and good speed)
- A2 Hosting (Developer support and performance)
- DreamHost (Reliability and money-back assurance)
Step 3: Register your domain name
After you’ve decided which hosting platform is best for you, and selected the extension you want, check the availability for your domain and initiate the purchase from domain registrar. A domain registrar is a company which manages the reservation of domain names. You will have to provide your contact information and choose the duration of your registration (one to ten years).
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Step 4: Set up your domain and hosting
In this step, there are some sub-steps that you need to perform to successfully complete the set up process of your domain and hosting.
1. Modify the Nameserver
Nameservers are the specialized servers that manage the relationship between your domain name and the server hosting of your website. The nameserver doesn’t know where your website is hosted, so they can’t direct visitors to your site. You have to ensure domain name points to the server which is hosting your website to get traffic onto your website.
2. Customize settings
You will also have to customize some other settings if your website is made through coding, this procedure is comparatively easier for WordPress websites.
Step 5: Upload your website files
Upload all of your website’s data. One of the most common methods is using a FTP (File Transfer Protocol), it allows you to drag and drop your files from your computer to your web hosting server. It is one of the most used and easiest methods to upload your website’s data.
Step 6: Test and launch your website
Before you officially launch your website, you have to make sure to test it and ensure it works properly. The domain hosting service must be working smoothly. Check if your website is publicly visible and accessible through different devices or not.
Check the speed of loading a page, re-directing and much more to ensure that your website is working fine. Once you’re confident that everything is running smoothly, you can officially launch your website.
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Domain Hosting FAQs
Q1. What is web hosting?
Ans: Web hosting is a service which stores your website’s data on a hosting server and makes it easily visible to the people across the internet.
Q2. Which is the best web hosting service provider?
Ans: If you are just a beginner, Hostinger and Bluehost are the two platforms which can be great choices for you.
Q3. Do I need both domain and hosting to create a website?
Ans: Yes, you need a domain name (site’s address), and hosting (where your site’s data are stored) for a website to work.
Q4. How much does web hosting cost?
Ans: It can range from ₹200 up to ₹2500/month depending on the type of extension and hosting platform.
