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Understanding Domain Names and Web Hosting in Website Design

Do you really know what domain names and web hosting is and what they do?

If you’re interested in getting a new website developed or you currently have a website already, there are a few things that are required to have your website “live” on the Internet. Not only does a websites need to be designed and developed, but they also require you to have a domain name and web hosting so you can view it online. Many people may know that they need web hosting and a domain, but might not know why they’re required and what they actually do. This article will help explain how these services work and why they are necessary to have for your website.

Domain Name

To have a functional website that people can easily access online, you must have a domain name. A domain name works similar to how a phone number works as it is what people type in to find your website. The main difference is that you type in the website’s domain name in the website browser to access it instead of a number. There are a variety of different types of domain names, but most of them look similar to example.com, mywebsite.net, jsmcorp.com or other words/phrases that once entered into the web browser, will take the user to view the website. There are specific domain settings (DNS settings) that need to be setup so it will send traffic accordingly.

A domain name needs to be registered with a domain registrar, which is a company that manages domain names. The domains are rented yearly and need to be kept up-to-date. So if you had a domain and you let it expire, you greatly risk the possibility that someone else will take that domain from you. It is extremely important to keep your domain name registered with the correct registrar. There are many scammers out there that try to trick you into renewing your domain name with them for their financial gain so it is important to understand what you’re renewing and what you’re doing. If you’re not sure, it’s always good to check with a website design expert before renewing any domain names with any companies who send you an email or a letter in the mail in your mailbox.

Web Hosting

A website is built with specific code scripts and different types of files that need to be stored on a web server so it can be accessed and viewed whenever someone visits your website. A website is hosted on a web server, which is basically an advanced computer that stores websites and other required data on it. The websites are hosted on the server and are normally rented or leased monthly to use. Whenever someone enters your domain name in the browser or clicks on a link that goes to your website, the domain will automatically be redirected to the website hosting account assigned for the domain and will load the requested page of the website.

Summary

This is just a brief description on the basic usage of domains and web hosting. There are a lot of other functionality that both provide, but hopefully you’ll get an understanding on how they apply to basic website design. Just understand that you website needs a domain (example.com) so it can be easy to remember and provide so people can view your website. Your website also needs web hosting to store your website at. Feel free to contact us for any questions you my have in website development and we’ll be glad to help.

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