What is the difference between web hosting, and a domain name?

When you have a website, you need two different things.

1. Domain Name
2. Web Hosting

A domain name is your web address (www.example.com.) It is the name people type in to go to your website. It would also be the prefix on your email as well, such as (johndoe@example.com.)  It is 100% separate from your web hosting. What the domain name does is actually point to your web hosting. So when people go to www.example.com, you are then being redirected to the actual server where the website is. When you register for a domain name, make sure the keep track of what company you bought the domain name with, along with the username and password to gain access to it. The reason for this is because a lot of times, your domain name isn’t registered at the same place as your web hosting. Eventually, your domain name subscription is going to run out and your going to need to renew it. If you don’t renew it, someone else may be able to buy it and you will be out of luck.

Web hosting is what holds your website online. Its rented space. Without web hosting, your website will not be up, and your email will not work. Generally there is a back end to the web hosted area where you would create new ftp accounts (where you would upload and edit your website), add new email addresses, add other domain names that could point to your website, and other cool stuff. Your web hosting is different from your domain name so again, make sure you keep your records. You must know where to go to:

1. log into the billing part of your web hosting account (having a web address, username, and password)

2. log into the back end of your account (having a web address, username, and password)

These are the things a web design company is going to need in order to work with you. If you have this information saved, it will save you time and money. If you don’t have this information, but have a website, what you can do to get it is simply call your web hosting company and they can provide you with this information. In regards to the domain name, you can find out who your domain name is registered to by looking up your domain name at http://www.whois.is

If you have any further questions, or may be interested in getting a website, you can feel free to email us any time or call me at (951) 742-8020

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