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Domain Name vs. Web Hosting: What's the Difference?

Category: Getting Started with Web Hosting Last Updated: 2025-05-15

When you're starting a website, you'll hear two terms a lot: domain name and web hosting. For beginners, it's easy to get them mixed up, but they are two distinct (though related!) things that your website needs to function.

Let's clear up the confusion!

Revisiting Our House Analogy

We've previously talked about: * Web Hosting as the land your website lives on. * A Domain Name as the unique street address for that land.

Think of it this way: * You need land (web hosting) to build your house (website) on. * You need an address (domain name) so people can find your house.

You can't have a publicly accessible house without both land and an address. Similarly, your website needs both web hosting and a domain name to be found and visited by people on the internet.

What Each One Does

Here's a simple breakdown:

Domain Name: * What it is: The memorable name people type into their browser (e.g., hostitdummy.com). * Its job: To point browsers to the correct web server where your website files are stored. It's like the signpost for your website. * How you get it: You register it through a domain registrar (like Namecheap, GoDaddy, Google Domains). This is like officially registering your street address with the post office. * What it looks like: yourchosenname.com, yourchosenname.org, yourchosenname.net, etc.

Web Hosting: * What it is: The actual space on a server where your website's files (text, images, code, videos) are stored and run from. * Its job: To store your website files and make them available 24/7 to anyone who visits your domain name. It's the physical (or virtual) plot of land and the utility services (power, internet connection) for your website. * How you get it: You purchase a hosting plan from a web hosting company (like Bluehost, Hostinger, SiteGround). This is like renting or buying the plot of land. * What it involves: Servers, software, security, and maintenance – usually handled by the hosting company.

Can You Get Them from the Same Place?

Yes, often you can! Many web hosting companies also offer domain name registration services. Sometimes they even offer a free domain name for the first year when you sign up for a hosting plan.

  • Convenience: Getting both from the same company can be convenient as you manage everything under one account.
  • Flexibility: However, you can also register your domain name with one company (a domain registrar) and get web hosting from a different company. You would then just need to tell your domain registrar the "address" (nameservers) of your web hosting provider.

Key Differences Summarized

Feature Domain Name Web Hosting
Analogy Street Address Land / Physical Space
Purpose Helps people find your site Stores your site's files
What it is yourwebsite.com Server space & resources
Obtained from Domain Registrar Web Hosting Company

Key Takeaway

You need BOTH a domain name AND web hosting to make your website live on the internet. The domain name is the address, and web hosting is the space where your website lives. They work together but are separate services.

Next Steps

Now that you understand the difference, you're ready to: