The difference between domain name and web hosting

HostPapa offers domain name registration and web hosting services. Though these two things are closely connected, they are separate from each other. In this article, we’ll walk you through the difference between domain names and web hosting, as well as answer some frequently asked questions on the subject. 

What is a domain name?

A domain name is an address that needs to be typed in a browser to access your website. Imagine your website is like a house. Your domain name is the street address of the house. A more detailed explanation about domain names requires you to know a bit about IP addresses.

The internet is a giant network of computers connected through cables to each other. For easy identification of these computers, each one is assigned a series of numbers. These are the IP addresses.

The IP address is a combination of numbers separated by dots. For example, a typical IP address would look like 66.255.34.1.

Computers can remember these IP Addresses easily, unlike humans. Multiply that by the vast number of websites that every human being uses these days, and you have a complex combination of IP addresses that a person needs to remember.

With a domain name, visiting a website on the internet will not be a problem. You don’t have to type a string of numbers. Instead, you just need to type in the easy-to-remember domain name, like hostpapa.com, to access the website.

What is web hosting?

To understand the difference between a domain name and web hosting, you need to understand what web hosting means. Web hosting is where all the files of your website reside.

Web hosting can be thought of as the house where your website lives. If the domain name is the address, the web hosting is the house itself. All websites require web hosting for them to work.

When someone types your domain name in their browser, the domain name gets translated to the IP address of your web hosting company’s computer. This computer is the location of your website files, and it sends the necessary files back to the browser of the user who typed in the domain name. Thus, web hosting companies serve websites and store their files.

The connection between a domain name and web hosting

Web hosting and domain names are different services, but they work together to run websites.

A domain name system is an address book that is updated constantly. Each domain name has an address of the web hosting service, which stores the files of a website.

The domain name is necessary for people to access your website, and web hosting is needed to build it. They are interrelated, and both are required to run a website successfully.

Do I need a domain name or web hosting to build my website?

Domain names and web hosting are both crucial to build a website.

When you buy a domain name, you get the right to use it for a specific period, usually one year. You will then need a web hosting service to store your website files. After obtaining the web hosting, update your domain name settings and point it to your web hosting service address.

With HostPapa, you can also buy hosting and domain name. Get more information about our plans and features here.

Can I buy web hosting and domain name separately?

Yes, you can buy web hosting services and domain names from different companies, but you will have to point your domain name to the web hosting company. You can do this by editing the DNS settings.

However, it’s easier to purchase a domain name and web hosting from the same company, as you won’t have to change the domain name settings in this case. You can easily manage and renew both services using the same dashboard.

Contact the HostPapa support team 24/7 if you need any help acquiring your plan.

Can I move my website’s domain name to HostPapa?

Yes, you can move your website’s domain name to HostPapa. Once you register a domain name, you are entitled to use and transfer it anywhere you want.

After purchasing your domain name and hosting from another company, you have the freedom to move your web hosting to HostPapa. Simply transfer files and data to move your site from one host to another. HostPapa offers a FREE migration service from any provider – we’ll do all of it for you.

Then, all you need to do is edit the domain name settings and point the domain name to your new web hosting provider.

For more information on how to transfer your domain name to HostPapa, check out this Knowledge Base article.

Can I move my website to HostPapa without changing the domain?

Once you register a domain name, you can change its settings and point it anywhere you want.

After purchasing your domain name and hosting it with another hosting company, you have the freedom to move your web hosting to HostPapa. We offer a free domain transfer and can move your website for you.

After doing this, edit the domain name settings and point the domain name to HostPapa.

If you need help with your HostPapa account, please open a support ticket from your dashboard.

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