Articles about Web Design
Here we are posting a series of informative articles about websites - how to get one, what is involved, how much does it cost, what are the options, and more. As well, we'll share what we know about email, web browsers and the internet.
Domain Name, and Web Hosting - what's the difference? |
| Jan 06 2008 at 3:23 AM |
Many people find this subject confusing. You purchase your domain name and then the web designer says you'll need to purchase hosting space. Why do you need two things?
A website is actually a collection of files resting on a server. When you ask your browser to go look at the webpage, you type the address of the server (a url) into your browser and your browser downloads the websites files into your cache. Temporarily, the website's files are actually on your home computer and your browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari) browses through them and shows them to you.
In order for you to have a website, you need to 'rent space' on a server or 'host'. This costs anywhere from $3 - $35 a month. For standard websites, and good service, you should expect to pay around $12-15 per month for server space. Once rented, your web designer will upload your website's files onto that server for all to see.
But first, you need to have an address that people can type into their browsers in order to find your website and its files. This is called a domain name.
You don't have to purchase your domain name from a server or host. In fact, I don't encourage this as someday you may want to change to a different host and it might be difficult if your domain name is managed by your old host.
Best to visit a domain name registration site and purchase your name from there. Sites like domainpeople.com or domains.ezy-hosts.com.
When you purchase your name, you'll receive a username and password. This is very important information which should be printed out and kept. You don't have to have a website in order to purchase a domain name. You might want to go out right now and buy that domain name you've been thinking of. Domain names are not expensive - $15-20 will get you one for a year.
When you do have a host where you have rented space and uploaded website files, you will simply 'point' your domain name at the host. This can be done by your webmaster when it's time for launch. Until then, the domain name will not take anyone anywhere.
So go out and get that domain name.
More articles coming soon.
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