Ultimate Guide for Beginners: What is Domain Name & Web Hosting?

Are you thinking of creating a website but confused between “Domain Name” and “Web Hosting”?

If yes, then you are at the right place. We have seen many beginners struggling to differentiate between a domain name and web hosting.

For creating a website, you need to understand what is domain name and web hosting. These terms are not as hard as they look.

In this article, I have provided a complete beginner-friendly guide about domain names and web hosting. Also, you will find here the best place to get them at the best price (including free places).

What is a Domain Name?

A domain name is like the address of your website on the internet. It helps users find your website easily, much like how a street address helps people find your house.

A domain name is a unique string of characters that identifies a website. It typically consists of two main parts:

Second-Level Domain (SLD): This is the main part of your domain name.
- For example, in “mywebsite.com,” “mywebsite” is the SLD.
Top-Level Domain (TLD): This is the extension that follows the SLD, like “.com,” “.org,” or “.net.”
- For example, in “mywebsite.com,” “.com” is the TLD.

You can choose both SLD and TLD for your website. Many online platforms allow you to purchase the domain name of your choice. All you need to do is make the relevant payment.

Domain names are so crucial because they are unique web addresses. No other person in the world can have a domain name owned by you.

Why there is a Need for Domain Names?

Like the real world, the Internet is a world of computers. As we all have names to get differentiated from others, computers also have names to get identified over the internet. And these names are named IP Addresses.

An IP Address is further a combination of numbers divided by dots. For example, 77.845.57.15.

Machines or computers have no problem in identifying & remembering these values. However, humans can not remember such complex numbers for more than one website.

This is why domain names were invented. Remembering domain names is much easier than remembering a string of numbers separated by multiple dots.

That’s why when you want to open a website, you just need to write its name only instead of a complex string of numbers.

How to Choose the Best Domain Name?

Choosing the best domain name is very important for your website’s success.

Following are some tips:

Keep it Simple and Short: Shorter domain names are easier to remember and type.
Avoid Numbers and Hyphens: They can be confusing and hard to remember.
Use Keywords: If possible, include relevant keywords that describe your business or website.
Make it Unique and Brandable: Ensure it stands out and represents your brand well.
Check Availability: It is very important to see if your desired name is available or not. You can use different domain registration sites to check this.

☛ Check these Domain Name Generators to find a unique domain name for your website.

Domain Name Extensions (TLDs)

There are several types of TLDs:

Generic TLDs (gTLDs): Common extensions like “.com,” “.org,” and “.net.”
Country Code TLDs (ccTLDs): Specific to countries, such as “.uk” for the United Kingdom, “.in” for India, “.ca” for Canada, etc.
Sponsored TLDs (sTLDs): Sponsored by organizations, such as “.edu” for educational institutions.

If you want people to visit your website from all over the world then choose generic TLDs. And if you want to attract website visitors only from a country then choose TLD for that country. For example, if you want visitors from India then choose “.in” TLD.

How much does a Domain Name Cost?

The cost of a domain name can vary depending on several factors:

TLD: Some TLDs are more expensive than others. For example, “.com” is usually more affordable than “.io” or “.ai.”
Registrar: Prices can vary between registrars, so it’s wise to compare with other registrars.
Premium Domains: Some domains that have high market value can be more expensive.

What is Domain Privacy Protection?

When you register a domain name, your personal information (like name, address, and phone number) is added to a public database called WHOIS.

Domain privacy protection hides this information from the public to protect your privacy and reduce spam.

Some domain registrars offer free domain privacy with domain name purchase while some charge extra for domain privacy.

How to Register a Domain Name?

To register a domain name, follow these steps:

Choose a Domain Registrar: This is a company that sells domain names. Popular registrars include Namecheap, Hostinger, and Google Domains.
Search for Your Domain: Use the registrar’s search tool to check if your desired domain name is available or not.
Select Your Domain: If available, add it to your cart.
Complete the Registration: Provide your contact details and payment information.

☛ Check these Best Domain Registrars to get a domain name at an affordable price including a free domain privacy option.

Domain Name Management

After registering your domain, you need to manage it:

Renewal: Domains need to be renewed periodically (annually or multi-year).
- If you do not renew your domain name, it will expire. After expiration, there’s a grace period during which you can still renew it. If not renewed, the domain will be released back into the pool of available domains, and someone else can register it.
DNS Settings: Configure settings like nameservers, which determine where your website is hosted.
Domain Lock: Lock your domain to prevent unauthorized transfers. (by default, it comes with a lock so you do not need to lock it separately)

How to Transfer a Domain Name?

You can transfer your domain from one registrar(company) to another. Following is the process:

Unlocking your Domain: Disable the domain lock with your current registrar.
Authorization Code: Obtain a code from your current registrar.
Initiate Transfer: Start the transfer process with your new registrar and provide the authorization code.

How to Get a Free Domain Name or Website?

You can get a free domain name from Wix, Weebly, or WordPress.com.

From these sites, you will get a subdomain. For example, if you get a domain from WordPress.com site then your site name would be “mysite.wordpress.com”. You can’ get a site named “mysite.com” free of cost.

Now to create a free website, just follow the steps,

Sign up for a free account on the website builder’s platform.
Choose a website template and customize it.
Publish your website with a free subdomain like “yourwebsitename.wordpress.com.”

Here are the 5 best free website builders to create a free website.

Check this too: What is the Difference Between WordPress.org and WordPress.com

What is Web Hosting?

Web Hosting is a place where all the data of your website is stored. It is practically like a home to your website.

Web Hosting is nothing but renting a space. But instead of the human world, you are doing it in the virtual world.

Why Web Hosting is Needed?

Web hosting is like a giant computer that stores all the files, folders, and other data of your website.

When someone types your domain name into their browser, the hosting server delivers your website’s files to their device, allowing them to view your site.

Web Hosting smartly transmits only those requested files, keeping the other ones at bay. This boosts the quality of your website and makes it more user-friendly.

What are the types of Web Hosting?

There are several types of web hosting as follows,

Shared Hosting
WordPress Hosting
Cloud Hosting
VPS Hosting
Dedicated Hosting

After seeing the many types of web hosting, you will be confused about which to choose for your website.

But you don’t worry.

Check the following complete and beginner-friendly guide that explains each hosting type.

☛ Shared vs WordPress vs Cloud vs VPS vs Dedicated Hosting Comparison

You have landed here as you are a beginner and for a beginner, you should choose a shared hosting or a WordPress hosting.

I recommend to choose DreamHost, HostArmada, or Hostinger.

For more information or selection, check the following articles,

☛ How to Create a WordPress Blog and Make Money Online in 2025

What is SSL Certificate and It is Necessary?

An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that provides a secure connection between a web server and a web browser.

When a website has an SSL certificate, its URL changes from “http” to “https,” where the “s” stands for secure.

An SSL certificate is necessary because it ensures the security of data, builds trust with users, improves search engine rankings, helps comply with regulations, and protects against phishing attacks.

It’s a simple yet crucial step to make your website safe and trustworthy.

All the web hosting providers offer free SSL certificates with their hosting plans. Some of them don’t offer free SSL with their basic hosting plan.

If you want to use paid SSL certificate then here are the best SSL certificate providers.

Free Web Hosting Providers

If you want to get a free web hosting provider, then there are many free web hosting providers.

Check these 10 Best Free Web Hosting Providers to create your free website.

Before you start creating a website with free hosting, you should know the disadvantages of free hosting.

Check this Free Hosting vs Paid Hosting comparison to know which hosting is better for you.

Domain Name vs Web Hosting

Domain name & web hosting both are required to build a website. You will find that most of the time they are bought together. It is why many people are unable to differentiate between them.

Below we have listed the important differences between them,

Your domain name (website name) points to the storage location of your website data. Your web hosting is that storage location as it contains physically stored data of your website.
Your web hosting is useless until you have purchased a domain name, whereas you can buy a domain name without buying web hosting or even creating a website. You can use your domain name with a free hosting provider.
- For example: you can create a website named “mysite.com” with free hosting. You just need to pay for your domain name only.

FAQs on Domain Name and Web Hosting

1. What is a domain name?

A domain name is a unique address used to identify a website on the internet, such as www.example.com. It translates IP addresses into easy-to-remember words.

2. How do I register a domain name?

You can register a domain name through a domain registrar. Common registrars include Namecheap, Hostinger, and Google Domains. You’ll need to check if your desired domain is available and then follow the registrar’s registration process.

3. What is web hosting?

Web hosting is a service that provides space on a server to store your website’s files and make them accessible on the internet.

4. Do I need both a domain name and web hosting to have a website?

Yes, you need both. The domain name is the address where users find your website, and web hosting is where your website’s files are stored.

5. Can I transfer my domain name to a different registrar?

Yes, you can transfer your domain name to another registrar. The process involves unlocking your domain, obtaining an authorization code from your current registrar, and then initiating the transfer with the new registrar.

6. What factors should I consider when choosing a web hosting provider?

Consider factors like uptime guarantee, customer support, server speed, scalability, security features, and pricing.

7. Can I host my website for free?

Yes, some providers offer free hosting plans, but they often come with limitations such as ads, limited storage, and bandwidth. Examples include WordPress.com and Wix.

8. How do I connect my domain name to my web hosting?

After purchasing both a domain name and web hosting, you need to update the DNS (Domain Name Server) settings of your domain. This usually involves pointing your domain’s nameservers to your web hosting provider. If you have purchased domain name and web hosting from the same company then you don’t need to change or update DNS.

9. What is an SSL certificate, and do I need one?

An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate encrypts data transferred between your website and its visitors. It’s essential for security, particularly for e-commerce sites, and is indicated by “https” in the URL.

10. Can I have multiple domain names for one website?

Yes, you can have multiple domain names point to the same website. This is often done for branding or to protect intellectual property.

11. How often do I need to renew my domain name and web hosting?

Domain names and web hosting plans are typically renewed annually, though some providers offer multi-year plans. It’s essential to keep track of renewal dates to prevent service interruption.

12. What happens if I don’t renew my domain name or web hosting?

If you don’t renew your domain name, it will eventually become available for others to register. If you don’t renew your web hosting, your website will go offline, and you may lose your website data.

13. Can I change my web hosting provider later?

Yes, you can change your web hosting provider at any time. The process typically involves transferring your website files and databases to the new host and updating your domain’s DNS settings. Check this article to get a complete guide on how to change web hosting.

14. What is bandwidth, and why is it important for web hosting?

Bandwidth refers to the amount of data transferred between your website and its visitors. Higher bandwidth allows more traffic and faster loading times, which is crucial for user experience and SEO.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a domain name is a website name and web hosting is a storage that keeps your website data like images, files, folders, etc.

We hope you are now clear on the difference between a Domain Name & Web Hosting. But if you still have any queries feel free to ask in the comment section below.

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