What is Hosting?

A hosting server is where website files are physically located. You can think of it as a computer that stores the code, databases and software to make a website accessible on the internet.

Most hosting servers are located within large data centers run by hosting companies. A data center can consist of hundreds or even thousands of individual hosting servers and each server can host several websites at once.

What is a Domain Name?

In layman’s terms, a domain name is the text that a user types into a browser window to reach a particular website. It links the numeric IP address of a website to a more readable format.

For example our website has currently the IP address of 72.52.228.234 but is linked to creative-solutions.mx via our domain registrar and hosting company.

Why do you need them both to run a website?

While you could theoretically host the website files on your own computer, this is not really advisable because most home PC’s are simply not powerful enough and residential internet plans are either to slow or unreliable to guarantee a smooth experience for visitors. It would also require that you run your computer 24/7.

You would still need to buy your domain from a registrar and manually assign your home PC’s IP address to it. Please keep in mind that this only works if you have either a static IP from your ISP or sign up for a dynamic DNS service. You would also need good router that allows incoming connections.

If you didn’t understand anything of this, it is safe to say that for you the best approach is to sign up with a reputable hosting provider. Many offer affordable hosting and some even include the domain in their rental prices.

How much does Hosting and a Domain name cost?

The cost of renting a hosting server can vary greatly. This can go from a few US Dollars per month to several hundreds. For most type of website and entry to mid level shared hosting plan should be more than enough. For large company websites we highly recommend a hosting plan with a dedicated server.

Domain names with a regular TLD’s like .com or .net are usually cheap and cost around 10-30 USD per year. Only if you want something special they will become more expensive.

Published On: May 5th, 2022Categories: Tips & TutorialsTags: Views: 687

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About the Author: Peter Demetz

Peter is a highly experienced WordPress developer, entrepreneur, and digital marketer. With a career spanning over 20 years, Peter has honed his skills and expertise in the dynamic field of web development and online marketing.