Understanding Websites: How Hosting and Domains Work

A domain is essentially your website’s address on the internet. Just like you have a physical address for your home or business, a domain helps people find your website. For example, “google.com” or “yourbusinessname.com” is a domain. When someone types your domain into their browser, they are directed to your website.

There are many companies, known as domain registrars, where you can purchase a domain. Some of the popular ones include GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Google Domains. When you buy a domain, you usually pay for it annually, and you have the option to renew it every year to maintain ownership. The key here is to choose a domain name that represents your brand, is easy to remember, and reflects what your website is about.

Website hosting is the service that allows your website to be accessible on the internet. When you create a website, all the files, images, and content need to be stored somewhere, and that’s what a web host does. A hosting provider rents space on their servers to store your website data and make sure your site is available to visitors at all times.

The type of hosting you need depends on the size and traffic of your website. For smaller websites or blogs, shared hosting (where multiple websites share the same server) is usually sufficient. For larger or more complex websites, VPS (Virtual Private Server) or dedicated hosting (where your site has its own server) might be a better option.

DNS (Domain Name System) records are an often-overlooked but crucial part of managing your website. Think of DNS as the phone book of the internet. When someone types your domain name into a browser, DNS translates that name into the actual IP address where your website is hosted. Without DNS, browsers wouldn’t know where to go to load your website.



There are several types of DNS records, and each serves a different purpose:

1. A Record (Address Record): This points your domain to the IP address of your web hosting server.
2. CNAME Record (Canonical Name Record): This allows you to alias one name to another. For example, you can have “www.yourwebsite.com” redirect to “yourwebsite.com.”
3. MX Record (Mail Exchange Record): This directs emails sent to your domain to the correct mail server.
4. TXT Record: This is often used to verify domain ownership or set up email authentication, such as SPF or DKIM.

Managing your DNS settings properly is essential, especially when setting up services like email, web hosting, or third-party integrations like Google Workspace. Most domain registrars offer user-friendly dashboards where you can edit your DNS records, but always make sure you double-check these settings to avoid any disruptions to your site or email services.

One of the most critical parts of setting up your website is keeping track of your domain and hosting account information. This includes the login credentials for your domain registrar and hosting provider. It’s easy to overlook, but losing access to this information can create major problems, like:

• Losing control of your domain: If you forget to renew your domain or can’t access your account, you could lose it altogether. This means your website could go offline, or someone else could purchase your domain.
• Trouble managing your hosting account: If you can’t log into your hosting account, you won’t be able to make updates, troubleshoot issues, or even renew your hosting plan when it expires.

To avoid these headaches, make sure you:



1. Keep passwords secure: Store them in a safe place, like a password manager, and ensure they are complex enough to prevent unauthorized access.
2. Back up your website data: Hosting providers often offer automatic backups, but it’s always good to keep a copy of your website files in case of an emergency.
3. Renew on time: Set reminders to renew your domain and hosting services before they expire to avoid any service interruptions.