Introduction
Web hosting and domain names are two components that go hand in hand; in fact, one cannot function properly without the other. It is not correct to assume that these two are the same thing just because they have certain operational similarities. These two terms, as well as their meanings, are often mixed up by the general population.
Some of the most well-known web hosting firms, such as Godaddy and Bigrock, give their customers their own domain names. People who engage in many sorts of activities related to the internet, such as running online companies, blogging, freelancing, content authoring, and so on, own the domain name.
Hosting websites and registering domain names are two separate services. On the other hand, they rely on one another to make websites a reality. A domain name system is analogous to a vast address book that is continually being updated in its most fundamental sense. An address of the web hosting provider responsible for storing a website's files may be hidden behind each domain name. People will not be able to locate your website if you do not have a domain name, and you will be unable to create a website if you do not have web hosting.
Domain Name vs. Web Hosting
The primary distinction between a web hosting service and a domain name is that the former involves the renting of a human-readable term. In contrast, the latter consists of the storage of websites on servers that are connected to the internet. One of the characteristics that set these two apart from one another is the presence of this disparity.
The primary distinction between a domain and hosting is that a domain is the address of your website while hosting is the location where the website's files are kept. A visitor may quickly locate your website online by using the domain. A domain name and web hosting space are necessities for everyone who wants their website to be operational. Before beginning to build a website, it is essential to understand the distinctions between these two components since they are interdependent.
Web hosting, on the other hand, refers to a facility that stores all of your website's files in a centralized location. Web hosting, to put it another way, is comparable to providing a home for your website since here is where the data will be stored.
Although domain names and web hosting are two distinct entities, there is a strong connection between the two. To construct a website, you will first need a hosting web account and a domain name. This indicates that you cannot build a website with any one of them alone.
To begin things rolling, you may choose a domain name and then register it with a firm that acts as a domain registrar. You must register a domain name for a minimum of one year with most domain registrars. To keep using your domain beyond its expiration date, you must renew it.
After that, you must invest in a web hosting package and associate it with your domain name. After that, you can upload material to your website, install tools and plugins, and install website software such as WordPress.
Difference Between Domain Name and Web-Hosting in Tabular Form
| Parameters of Comparison | Domain Name | Web-Hosting |
| Meaning | A website may be identified by its unique name, which is known as its "domain name." | Hosting a website is what this refers to, as the name says. Web hosting makes it possible for files to be seen on the internet. |
| Purpose | Using a domain name is necessary to identify resources on the internet, such as computers, networks, and services. | Hosting your website on a server allows you to make it accessible over the internet. |
| Examples | Facebook.com will be used as the company's domain name. | Hosting options such as shared, virtual private server (VPS), and WordPress hosting are some examples. |
| Internet Requirement | Yes | Yes |
| User-Friendly | Simple to maintain and renew | Simple to maintain and renew |
| Transfer | Transfer of a domain name is possible. | FTP is an option for transferring over to your new web hosting account (File Transfer Protocol). |
What is a Domain Name?
The term "domain name" refers to the address of a website that visitors enter into the address bar of their web browsers to reach that specific website. This is the most basic explanation for the term. If we imagine that your website is a home, then the address that people will use to find it online is going to be its domain name. This is the simplest way to explain it.
Now, the majority of people are unclear about what a domain name really is. Because of this, there is no need to be confused about anything since registering a domain name and hosting a website are two entirely different activities.
You may have noticed that on the internet, any address that ends with an a.com extension is considered to be a domain name. One of the examples I have previously provided in the previous paragraph. For example, Facebook, whose website may be accessed via the URL facebook.com.
The domain name of Facebook is inferred from the addition of the dot-com extension to the word "Facebook." Now, for those who are unfamiliar with the process, let me explain how to get a domain name on this website: A domain name registrar is an entity that facilitates the purchasing of domain names.
Godaddy, Namecheap, and Bigrock are just a few of the numerous reputable businesses that provide domain name registration services. The web hosting business Godaddy will give you a free domain name, allowing you to test out its functionality right now.
Your website's address on the internet is referred to as its domain name, and having one will make it easier for others to discover you online. The websites Google.com, Yahoo.com, and ThemeIsle.com, are all examples of domain names. In a prior piece, we provided a more in-depth explanation of what domain names are and how they function. Users will have an easier time remembering the website's name if they utilize a domain name. One of the many reasons why it is essential to choose an appropriate name for your website is because of this. You will need to use a service known as a domain registrar to register a domain before you may own it.
People will input your website's URL into the address bar of their web browser to see your site. This is what is meant by the term "domain name." To put it another way, domain names provide users with an easy entry point to websites. If they did not have it, they would have to use an IP address, a numerical designation given to every website and server on the internet.
In most cases, domain names are made up of two primary components: a second-level domain, also known as an SLD, and a top-level domain, often known as a TLD (TLD). Words or phrases usually comprise second-level domains, whereas top-level domains are the preset extensions that come after second-level domains.
For instance, in the domain name google.com, "google" is the second-level domain, while ".com" is the top-level domain. Read our tutorial written just for novices if you want to find out more about domain names and how they operate.
Registering a domain name is the first step you need to take to get one for your website. Reserving a name on the internet for a certain amount of time is called domain registration. In most cases, you will be required to renew the license on an annual basis; however, you have the option of paying for the domain to be registered in your name in advance for a period of up to ten years.
Domain registrars are businesses or organizations that provide domain name registration services and are responsible for their management. ICANN, or the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, is responsible for coordinating and managing domain databases. Domain registrars are listed under this organization.
What is Web-Hosting?
Please permit me to clarify what web hosting is in layman's terms: web hosting is the location where the files for your website are stored. To put it another way, it functions similarly to the homepage of your website, as I described previously as well. The domain name is like the address of your home, and the web hosting is the physical location where people may visit the property.
For those who are unsure as to whether or not we need the use of a web hosting provider, the following information is provided. The correct response is "Yes" simply due to the fact that any website that is accessible over the internet needs a hosting web service.
Now, bloggers who utilize the platform offered by blogger.com can comprehend what a domain name is and how it operates. When a user enters a domain name into a browser, the domain name is parsed into an IP address. This happens automatically once the domain name has been typed.
After then, the computer that is delivered to the browser of a user is the one that contains the files from your website. You have the option of using Godaddy's free website hosting service. It is the program that is used the most by business owners who want to have an internet presence for their company.
There are other options available to you if you do not want to use Godaddy to host your website. There are many different ones, but some of them are Inmotion Hosting, Hostinger, Cloudways, Hostgator, and Bluehost. However, depending on how the website is going to be used, it may not always be required to get a web host. This is all determined by the users.
Your website is comprised of a variety of files, directories, and data in their respective locations. It is necessary to save the information that makes up your website on a server. Otherwise, users won't be able to see it. A server is a computer that users may log onto. Servers that are used for web hosting come into play here. They will keep your website's files for a nominal cost and provide access to them to site users. It would help if you understood what a web server is to learn how to host a website. A web server is like a personal computer in some ways, but it was designed from the ground up to store webpages. It does not turn off and maintains a constant connection to the internet.
Main Differences Between Domain Name and Web-Hosting in Points
- A web host is a location where all of your website's files are stored, while a domain name is the address of your website that someone puts into the address bar of their web browser when visiting your site. To put it another way, it is the location where your files are stored.
- Web hosting refers to the actual location where your website's files are kept, whereas a domain name is the address of that file's specific placement on your website.
- You are unable to set up a website without first obtaining a domain name, with the exception of situations in which you are doing so for free; nonetheless, it is possible to have a domain name even if you do not set up a website.
- You will, however, need to register a domain name and establish an account with a hosting web service before you can design your own website.
- One may obtain a domain name and web hosting from two different firms, given that the functions of the two are distinct from one another. However, after you have chosen a hosting web service, you will need to ensure that your domain name is redirected to use that service.
- Internet users enter your website's domain name as its address in their browser to visit it. While web hosting is a form of Internet hosting service that gives people or businesses access to storage space so they may make their websites visible to everyone.
- Web hosting is not the same as the domain name, which points to your IP address, which refers to your website.
- Because names are simpler to recall than lengthy strings of numbers, domain names are often used instead of IP addresses.
Conclusion
People need to be aware that registering a domain name and hosting a website are two entirely separate processes. If you are an individual entrepreneur with the goal of taking your company worldwide, it is in your best interest to invest in a web host and domain name. Doing so will unquestionably be to your benefit. I would suggest that you utilize Bluehost since it is the most straightforward approach to begin managing your own website and domain name.
It is a well-known web host that provides customers with the opportunity to acquire domain names. Bluehost provides new customers with a free domain name for a period of one year, which is something that I believe is an excellent opportunity for them to learn.
Bloggers that use free blogging platforms like blogger.com are required to establish their own domain name, and although web hosting is not needed, it is strongly recommended that they do so. Nevertheless, making use of these tools is really uncomplicated and straightforward, and customers may even effortlessly renew their subscriptions without encountering any difficulty.
References
- https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9781137483591_4
- https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3308558.3313664
