Domain and web hosting are thought of as peas of the same pod, but they have some contrasting differences! You can think of domain hosting as the services that provide a unique name that is addressable only to your website.
On the other hand, web hosting is the server on which your web address is built. So, it’s hard to think of them as alternatives.
To understand more about how they are so different from each other, this article will help you all the way through. Let's learn more about Domain Hosting Vs Web Hosting!
Key Takeaways
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Domain hosting provides you with a unique, addressable name.
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Web hosting is the server/portion of a server that runs your website.
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An all-in-one web & domain hosting is generally cheaper.
Domain Hosting Vs Web Hosting: The Differences
The primary difference between domain name and web hosting is the function of each service. You can always think of domain hosting as a house street name, such as 221B Baker Street. Essentially, it’s a conceivable name that has been assigned to your website so others can find it.
And, for web hosting, the main function is to provide the land for your home so you can store all of your essentials easily!
Now, let’s look at some of the highlighting differences between domain and web hosting in this comparison table:
| Factor/Feature | Domain Hosting | Web Hosting |
|---|---|---|
| Role | The unique address provider | The actionable physical space provider on a server |
| Purpose | Providing a unique address (URL) to your website | Storing your files and making your website go live |
| Requirement | Essential to make your website searchable online | Necessary to store and change any files on your website |
| Popular Service Providers | Hostinger, GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc. | Bluehost, HostGator, SiteGround, etc. |
| Pricing | Generally cost-effective | Typically costs more than domain hosting |
With this chart, you will get the overall picture of how domain & web hosting play their parts in building your website. We know it’s tough to get a full understanding of these two with such short descriptions.
Let’s try to break down both domain and web hosting one by one!
What Is Domain Hosting?
Domain name is the original and unique name or address allocated to your website. Think of the domain as your home address. When you tell others about your address, they can quickly understand where your house is located.
Domain hosting provides exactly that in the form of a domain name! When users on the internet type your domain name in the URL bar of any web browser, they will find your website easily.
Apart from domain name, users can also search your website with an IP address but that’s hard to memorize and complicated. So, getting a good, memorable domain name can be quite helpful for everyone.
What Is Domain Hosting Used for?
There are numerous purposes of domain hosting, and a few of them are:
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Unique Identification: Domain hosting provides a distinctive name to your website so others can smartly access your website online. Moreover, it helps you to create your own brand.
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Credibility: With a domain name, you exert more dominance and credibility due to the professional naming & presence.
Examples of Some Domain & Domain Hosting
Every domain name you see on the internet is sectioned into two main parts.
The first part is the Second Level Domain (SLD), or the name you choose for hosting your domain.
The second part, the Top Level Domain (TLD), is the extension that sits at the very end, such as .com, .org, .co, and so on.
There are multiple top-level domain name extensions got familiar to people around the world. The top 7 domain name extensions are-
⏩ .com- Though this domain name has been highly popular and used by almost every type of person and business, the .com domain extension has been designated for commercial organizations.
⏩ .org- Business organizations or persons, anyone on the internet can take the .org extension as their domain name.
⏩ .net- This extension is generally used by organizations that provide internet, hosting services, and database collaboration tools.
⏩ .edu- Educational institutions that have been accredited as educational institute with post-secondary limitation use the .edu extension on their virtual presence.
⏩ .gov- This domain extension has been intended to be used by every type of governmental institution. But now, only US-based governmental institutions can register with this extension.
⏩ .info- People or brands who want to provide information to their audiences, this .info domain name has been designated for them.
⏩ .us- It is the internet’s first country codeTLD (aka ccTLD) that has been registered for the United States. Organizations who wants to specify their market location uses a country code domain name extensions like this.
Additionally, if you have a business site where you promote your AI tools, having a .ai extension will help you get the right audiences on your site.
Take Dorik.com as an example. Here, Dorik is the SLD, and .com is the TLD!
Now, you might be thinking about where you can find your preferred domain name. Well, there are multiple great domain registrars like Namecheap, GoDaddy, Cloudflare, etc.
How to Choose a Domain Name
You should consider the following factors while choosing a domain name:
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Keep it simple and short
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Keep it memorable and easy to spell
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Avoid numberings and hyphens
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Pick the perfect domain extension
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Use a domain name generator
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Check availability and register it
What Is Web Hosting?
We have finally come to the second point of concern, and that is web hosting. Why don’t we start with a simple example?
Say, you want to know how you can start a blog. To start your own blog, you obviously will require a website, right? So, you obviously want to store your website in a certain space. It can be a portion of a server or the server itself. And that is the role of web hosting, storing your website securely in an identifiable place!
Now, you might think, what will happen if there’s no response from your web hosting? Simple, there will be no online presence on your website. No visitors, no availability!
That’s how important web hosting is for any website. However, don’t think a web hosting provider will also give you a website for free. It is just the space that you rent to keep your website online, nothing else!
But Dorik AI, the best AI website builder in the industry, lets you create any type of website in seconds and provides free hosting. Isn’t it amazing! Dorik ensures Reliable Hosting & CDN with 24/7 support. And most importantly, you don’t have to worry about your site’s storage and bandwidth because Dorik provides you with Unlimited Storage & Bandwidth.
Related Read: Cloud Hosting vs Shared Hosting
What Is Web Hosting Used for?
There are multiple crucial purposes of web hosting and here’s what you need to know about its use cases:
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Storage & Resource: Web hosting outlines the storage you need and the processing power required to run your operations smoothly.
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Bandwidth Allowance: Having a higher bandwidth speed allows have better website loading speed & improved network connection.
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Security: Web hosting adds a layer of security to your data, allowing you to freely communicate with your website.
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FTP & CMS: You can easily transfer files on the same server with FTP or manage your content via CMS provided with the web hosting.
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Email Management: You can get domain-specific email addresses which allows you to have a more professional outlook.
Types of Web Hosting
Similar to different types of domain hosting, there can be different types of web hosting too! Some can provide you with total control over your servers. While others offer to run everything smoothly even without your manual override.
The following examples can give you a better understanding of how you can host a website with your preferred web hosting service:
1. Free Hosting
This type of web hosting mainly comes with tons of limitations on your server space, bandwidth, control, and so on. While for starters, free hosting can be tried, it’s not possible for your website to scale up with free hosting.
Many popular web hosting services like Hostinger, Bluehost, and Siteground have free hosting plans.
2. Shared Hosting
When you share your server space with others and run your website, that’s essentially what shared hosting means. So, a server runs multiple similar websites altogether. Now, if something goes wrong with the server, then all of the shared websites are affected!
While this is again a good choice for personal websites and small-business websites, it can result in lower loading time in peak hours. You will be able to find this type of hosting in all the popular web hosting services.
3. Dedicated Hosting
After coming from the shared hosting service, you should be able to guess what the specialty of dedicated hosting is. It’s basically the full server dedicated to your usage and bandwidth.
You are the single user of the server so obviously you have all the resources, control, and flexibility with your server. However, it’s quite normal for this type of hosting to cost more than shared hosting because you’re using full access & resources of the server.
4. Managed Hosting
With this type of hosting, you become a part of a dedicated hosting service, minus the administrative control. So, you are using a full server but with managing power levied to your provider.
By using FTP, you can manage your computer networks in managed hosting.
5. Cloud Hosting
Web hosting through the cloud is a fairly new concept and users mainly share resources over the cloud. Compared to other hosting, cloud hosting can be a bit more affordable with less server disruption and administrative issues.
6. VPS Hosting
Virtual Private Server or VPS hosting sits just in the middle of shared and dedicated hosting. VPS web hosting is structured by sharing a server with others but with dedicated resources.
So, it is more secure, flexible, and customizable compared to shared hosting costing less than dedicated hosting.
How Does Domain & Web Hosting Connect with Each Other?
Domain and web hosting are intertwined with each other in various ways. The connection between domain and web hosting is established through the Domain Name System (DNS). When a someone types your domain name into their browser, the DNS converts it into the numerical IP address that directs the browser to the correct web hosting server.
The server then retrieves the stored website files and displays them on the user’s screen. Essentially, the domain acts as the route, while hosting provides the destination where all the content resides. Together, they create the seamless experience of browsing websites.
That’s why many prefer to choose the same provider for domain and web hosting. At the same time, others wait and optimize their options as neatly as they can!
Now, let's discuss how you can create any types of websites in just 4 steps using Dorik AI, the best AI website builder in the market.
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Sign up to Dorik AI
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Write a prompt describing your business
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Customize the AI-generated website
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Preview and Publish
You can also make your site using Dorik Templates or design from scratch.
Note: Dorik AI provides a free sub-domain and completely free & reliable hosting with every website. The users will also enjoy unlimited storage and bandwidth. After purchasing your domain name, you can connect your custom domain to your Dorik website any time.
Pros of Using the Same Domain & Web Hosting
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It is convenient and easy to fix any issues promptly
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Better tech and customer support
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All-around security and backup options
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Cost-effective
Cons of Using the Same Domain & Web Hosting
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If the provider faces any downtime, your website and domain both can be affected
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Some all-in-one plans can limit your customizations
So, what are your thoughts about domain and web hosting after all the knowledge you gathered today? We hope that it’ll make your website-building journey smooth like butter!
There are tons of awesome website builders that you can try but Dorik AI is the best one that you always dream of!
FAQs
Can you buy web hosting without a domain name?
Yes, it is possible for you to buy a web hosting plan without purchasing a domain name. However, if you want to host a website, then you’ll obviously need a domain name. So, it’s better to get both if you’re planning to run a website.
Is it possible to move my domain name to a different company?
Yes, you can easily do that in every domain registrar as it is necessary to include a domain transfer feature. However, the domain company will charge you a fee to transfer your domain to a new company.
How long can I keep the domain name?
Mandated by ICANN, the authority behind every domain act, it is possible for you to keep the same domain name for up to 10 years. So, you can take a domain name for a 10-year lease and stay carefree.
Conclusion
At the end, it suffices to say that domain and web hosting co-exist harmoniously in the ever-tangled web! Getting to know the differences between domain hosting and web hosting can be the first gateway to building your own website.
Hence, you should learn more about these technical terms so that you can make an informed decision in the future!
