Domain vs hosting: Are they different?

Whenever you try to create a website, there are two things you will require: a domain name, and a web hosting space. Although two very different things, they are often confused to be the same. Therefore, this article will, for once and for all, clarify the definitions and differences between domain name and web hosting.

Think of the domain name as the address of a house, and the web hosting as the actual house itself. Domain name is the unique identity of your website while the web hosting is the space where your files and data are actually stored. So, when we enter a website’s name, the server will direct us to the web host where the files are kept.

Domain name is the very first thing you will require when creating a website. It is the unique URL of the website that people will enter into their address bar to reach your site. Without it, people would have to use a numerical arrangement of numbers to get to each website, also known as an IP address.

Domain names have two parts: a second level domain (SLD) and a top level domain (TLD). A second level domain is the unique words or phrases that name the site, while the TLD is the predetermined extension that is added at the end. For example, in the URL rushmommy.com, rushmommy is the second level domain and .com is the TLD.

The way you get a domain name is to have it registered so that it is reserved for your use up to a certain time period. After the time period ends you will have to renew the license for the domain to be registered in your name.

It is also important to check for the availability of the domain name you have selected. You can do this by entering your desired domain name in the search bar at rushmommy.com and it will show you a list of available names along with their registration prices for you to choose from.

After you have selected the domain name for your website, you now have to get it registered through a domain registrar. You can get different prices on your domain depending on your TLD as some TLDs such as .com, or .net will cost you more. You can find many options for TLD on a domain registrar site such as rushmommy.com which will include cheaper alternatives with relatively newer TLDs as well. It is always a good idea to know all your options and available packages before you opt for a domain name for your site.

Once you have selected your desired domain name, it is time to get it registered. To register a name with rushmommy.com all you need to do is add your chosen package to the cart and check out. While at checkout it will also give you the option to choose the registration period, which is the duration of the time you will have your domain name registered.

Web hosting services enable you to publish your website on the internet. A web hosting provider owns several big web servers that are connected to the internet. When you are registered with such a provider you are essentially borrowing space in their web server to store your files and publish them on the internet. When someone enters your URL it is the web hosts job to present your stored files to the viewer.

If you are someone who is not tech savvy, you need not worry. Web hosts, such as rushmommy.com, provides beginner-friendly tools that can easily help you manage your website. In addition to that, a web host will also provide you customer support, server maintenance, and website builders so users can create and maintain their websites with ease.

It is always a good idea to research your options thoroughly before opting for a web host. At rushmommy.com, we provide several hosting options such as cpanel, plesk, wordpress etc. that you can choose according to your business requirements. Each type of hosting will be able to cater to your needs depending on your budget and what kind of website you want to build.

If you are new to website creation with little technical knowledge, we would recommend you go for website hosting, as that let’s our team at rushmommy.com manage everything for you end-to-end while also being affordable. However, if you like to have more control over managing a server on your own then it is best to go for VPS hosting that will let you have more options while building your site.

Domain and hosting work together in making your website functional. Your domain name is the address of the house your files are stored in, which is your web host. Without the host, there will be no content on your website to show the viewer.

It is especially important for your domain name to be linked to your web hosting server after you buy them. This is why it is recommended to buy both the domain and the host from the same place to avoid the hassle of manually syncing them to make the website operational. At rushmommy.com you can buy the domain name and hosting server at affordable prices to make your website operational without any wait.

This article has covered all the key points you need to know to be able to create a website. Let us know if you have any queries in the comments below and we will do our best to answer them.