Web Hosting vs Domain Registration – What Are the Differences?

Are you interested in knowing the distinction between web hosting vs domain? Do you wonder why these two concepts frequently coexist? The majority of people think this way; some don’t even recognize that domain and hosting are two separate things.

This is due to the fact that domain names and web hosting must be used for the creation of websites. However, they’re not a single thing. In this article, we’ll discuss what is domain registration? What is web hosting? And finally web hosting vs domain.

What Is a Domain?

Domain names refer to the URL that people type into the address bar of a web browser to connect to your website. In terms of domain names, they are a convenient method for people to gain access to websites.

Without it, they’d need to utilize a numeric label that is assigned to each server and website online, also called the IP address.

Domain names are generally comprised of two primary components namely the second-level domain (SLD) and the top-level domain (TLD). Second-level domains typically consist of phrases or words. Top-level domains comprise specified extensions that are followed by.

In the instance for Google.com, the second-level domain is Google, while .com is the TLD.

To obtain a domain for your site it is necessary to register it prior to doing so. Registration of domains is registering your domain name on the internet for a specific time. Typically, you must renew the license at least once per year, however, you can purchase in advance as long as 10 years for that domains registration with your name.

Organizations or companies that sell or manage registrations for domain names are known as domain registrars. Domain registry companies are listed under ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Numbers and Names) which is an organization that coordinates and manages domain databases that are accessible on the internet.

Types of Domain Extensions

Domain extensions, also known as top-level domains (TLDs) can refer to the final part of a domain’s name.

The name of the game suggests that TLDs have the highest position in the Internet’s DNS (domain name system) hierarchy. There are many TLDs that are available on the internet which are continuously updated and maintained with the help of the IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority).

IANA divides TLDs into four categories based on their function and their location. These include:

• GTLDs (Generic Top-Level Domains): The most popular domain name is suitable for any purpose on a website. This includes the popular .com, .org, and .net. along with other distinct names like .xyz, .biz, and .tech.
• STDs (Sponsored Top-Level Domains): Domains that are restricted to specific groups and organizations. Examples of this include .gov for governmental websites, .edu for institutions of higher education as well as .post for postal services.
• CcTLDs (Country Code Top-Level Domains): Notes a specific part of the region or geographical area using ISO codes. For instance, .us for USA, .in for India, .es for Spain as well as .id for Indonesia.
• Top-Level Domain Infrastructure: It consists of only one domain name that includes .arpa, representing the ARPA (Address and Routing Parameter Area). This domain name is primarily reserved to solve internet-infrastructure issues.

See Domain Extensions

What Exactly Is Web Hosting?

When you design a site, you’re creating a lot of files that are later displayed and read by web browsers. To make sure your website is visible on the web, you’ll need to host the site on servers. Simply put, this is the way web hosting functions.

This is where web hosting is a factor. The cost is a per-month cost and rent space on the server so that you can save websites’ files.

A business that is specialized in web hosting services will have all the technological infrastructure needed to store your website’s files. For instance, they’ll be able to provide large data centers that are stocked with network equipment, servers, and backup power supplies as well as air cooling systems, and much more.

Within this vast web of servers, there’s a small part of the network to keep information about your site’s files.

There’s a myriad of different types of hosting available. If you’re only beginning to get started online, then the basic shared hosting plan might suffice.

Here are a few advantages of using web hosting as well as the most common forms:

• Shared hosting: If you are new, we recommend to buy a shared hosting plan. This type of hosting is ideal for those just starting out on the internet. In essence, when you buy a shared hosting, you share space with a variety of other sites, so the price is extremely low.
• VPS Hosting: This type of hosting utilizes virtualization to draw from several servers to create the virtual dedicated server. It’s an excellent option for those who require something more extensive than shared hosting and don’t possess the funds for dedicated servers.
• Cloud Hosting: The relatively new type of hosting is extremely robust, flexible, and affordable. Cloud server clusters are used to ensure top performance and long-lasting uptime.
• Hosting on a dedicated server: It’s exactly as it sounds. You can rent a whole server that you can modify to suit your needs. It’s ideal for websites with high traffic that require the highest levels of security as well as a server control.
• WordPress hosting: This type of hosting is perfect, especially for WordPress users. The server is set up to make sure you make the most of WordPress.

In order to begin using web hosting, select the plan that is best for the purposes of your site and then transfer the files to the host. The majority of the time, this process is accomplished with the help of a panel, such as cPanel. It lets you connect to the server using a user-friendly interface.

Web Hosting vs Domain Registration

To have an online presence that users are able to access, you require domain and hosting. If you only have a domain name you don’t have a website. If you only host your website, you’ll have the website but you are unable to access it except if you type in your IP address. Your domain, as well as web hosting, are crucial to building an effective website.

Consider it as follows:

• Your hosting account is your house. It’s where you can find all your furniture also known as the website’s files.
• Domain names are the address you use to reach your customers. If you’d like people to stop by to see your furniture, they’ll be using the address (domain address) to arrive.

Today, you can buy many domain names without needing an online presence for them. If you want your domain to be associated with an individual website, you’ll need to direct it to the server of your website.

Differences Between Web Hosting and Domain Registration

There are some concerns. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions related to hosting and domain names:

Can I transfer my website without moving the domain?

Once you have a domain name, you can connect it to any internet hosting provider you like. This is why it’s worth buying your domain and hosting from different companies since this can be completed much faster.

Let’s say you’ve just made the decision to change your hosting provider. The migration process has been completed for all of your website’s files and all you need to do is change the domain. All you need to do is connect your nameservers from your existing domain registrar and point them to your new host.

Can I switch domain name providers?

Perhaps you’ve got an ideal domain however, you’re not certain about the domain registration company. You are able to easily switch to all domain names registrars there.

But, remember that the process for transfer may differ depending on the location you’re making the transfer to. Typically, you’ll need to start the transfer through the current registrar and then an approval code would be emailed to the new account. There are several steps to confirm that can help ensure that your domain isn’t transferred to the wrong person.

Do I have to buy web hosting and a domain in conjunction?

There’s no need to purchase your domain and hosting services together. We’ve already mentioned that it can make your life easier and it can help you save cash upfront but it’s not required.

However, if you buy your domain on your own make sure to alter the DNS settings to redirect your domain to the host.

Can I buy domain names by themselves?

You don’t have to connect hosting to each domain you buy. Perhaps you’ve discovered the perfect domain for your next project? Or, perhaps you’re purchasing a domain name that is fun as an act of humor, or as a present? You can buy any number of domain names you’d like. If you decide to create an online site on the domain, you can link the domain to your website server.

Conclusion

As you can see, domain name registration and hosting plan for the web are completely distinct things. They’re both essential for those who want to create an online website that is accessible via the Internet. The decision of whether you’d like to buy your domain and hosting in tandem or separately is entirely up to you.

However, if you’re only starting out online and you want to streamline the process by purchasing these from the same source is the most efficient option.