Domain Name

A domain name is the address where users can access your website. It’s the human-readable form of an IP address, which is the numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network. Here are some key points about domain names:

1. Structure:
   • Top-Level Domain (TLD): This is the part that comes after the last dot, such as .com, .org, .net, or country-specific TLDs like .ng, .com.ng,.uk or .de
   • Second-Level Domain (SLD): This is the part that comes before the TLD, usually the name of the business or organization (e.g., google in google.com).
   • Subdomain: A part of the domain that comes before the SLD, separated by a dot (e.g., mail.google.com where mail is the subdomain).
2. Registration: You need to register a domain name through a domain registrar (e.g. QServer, GO54 (WhoGoHost), GoDaddy, Namecheap, Hostgator, and many more) for a specified period (usually a year or more). Registration involves checking the availability of the desired name and then paying a fee for it.

Web Hosting

Web hosting is a service that allows organizations and individuals to post a website or web page onto the Internet. Here are the key components:

1. Web Servers: These are the computers that store the website files (HTML, CSS, images, etc.) and serve them to users upon request. Web hosting companies provide these servers and the necessary infrastructure.
2. Types of Hosting:
   • Shared Hosting: Multiple websites share the same server resources. It’s cost-effective but can lead to slower performance if one site uses too many resources.
   • VPS Hosting: Virtual Private Server hosting provides a dedicated portion of a physical server, giving more control and better performance than shared hosting.
   • Dedicated Hosting: You get an entire server to yourself. It’s the most expensive option but offers the highest level of performance and control.
   • Cloud Hosting: Uses a network of virtual servers that can be scaled up or down based on demand. It offers flexibility and reliability.
3. Additional Features:
   • Bandwidth: The amount of data that can be transferred to and from your website.
   • Storage: The amount of space available to store your website files.
   • Uptime: The percentage of time that the server hosting your website is operational. Higher uptime is crucial for website availability.
   • Support: Customer support to help with issues related to hosting.

How They Work Together

1. DNS Configuration: When you register a domain name, you need to point it to your web hosting provider’s servers. This involves configuring DNS (Domain Name System) settings to connect the domain name with the server’s IP address.
2. Website Access: When users type your domain name into their web browser, the browser uses the DNS to find the corresponding IP address and then accesses the server to load the website.

In summary, a domain name is like your website’s address, and web hosting is where your website lives. Both are essential for making your website accessible to users on the internet.