When it comes to setting up a website or blog a first time, one of the most common questions novice webmasters ask – particularly those who do not have technical know-how- is the difference between web hosting and domain hosting.
Basically, a website consists of three elements: the domain name, the server or web hosting, and the website files. Think of the domain as a phone number in a directory listing. Information is relayed from one computer to another via a set of numbers called IP addresses, similar to how one would contact a particular person’s number. For people to find your website, they would need to find your number first in the directory. The directory would indicate that your phone number is, for example, 111-222-333. Similarly, the domain tells the computer that your website – for instance, mywebsite.com – can be found on the server 111.222.333.444. If you don’t have domain hosting, your site location would come out as 111.222.333.444/~mywebsite/ instead of the prettier mywebsite.com.
Basically, a website consists of three elements: the domain name, the server or web hosting, and the website files. Think of the domain as a phone number in a directory listing. Information is relayed from one computer to another via a set of numbers called IP addresses, similar to how one would contact a particular person’s number. For people to find your website, they would need to find your number first in the directory. The directory would indicate that your phone number is, for example, 111-222-333. Similarly, the domain tells the computer that your website – for instance, mywebsite.com – can be found on the server 111.222.333.444. If you don’t have domain hosting, your site location would come out as 111.222.333.444/~mywebsite/ instead of the prettier mywebsite.com.
Image From: http://www.luckyregister.com/images/p1.jpg
Note that server hosting only includes the space; the domain is separately sold, as well as the products or furnishings that would make your space prettier and more functional.
Fortunately, there are many easy-install applications out there that can help you perk up your space.
Website files are the photos, documents and products that are visible to your audience. These are the same things that you use in your day-to-day web browsing: .jpg (photo), .pdf (Adobe file), .mp3 (music),php and .html files (PHP scripts and HTML pages). The server interprets these site files using certain algorithms and computations. Through this process, the server is able to convert these files to what is discernible to the naked eye.
Simply put, whenever a person visits your domain name, a message is translated to your web host’s IP address, and in return, the server sends back site files to the user according to what was instructed. Now the browser transforms into what is known as the web page. Without these three key elements, there won’t be such thing as a website.
It can be quite costly to spend on separate services for all three, so your best bet is to find a reliable company that offers all three in a single budget-friendly package. 9Dot Strategies provides various packages, from the most minimal to pricier customized ones, all ensuring sweat-free domain hosting, web hosting and website services.
