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Domain vs. Hosting
Taylor Tunnison • December 23, 2022

Setting up a website for your business can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Understanding the difference between domain names and web hosting can empower you to take control of your company’s online presence. Let's take a closer look at the key features of domain vs. hosting and why they’re so important when developing any website.

How Does a Website Work?

You don’t have to be a computer programmer to understand how websites work. Without getting too technical, a website is simply a collection of webpages with a unique domain name. The data contained within these webpages are stored, or hosted, somewhere on a web server.


Web servers are just groups of data center computers that store, locate, and send website data to other devices. Think of them as digital hotels that allow data to stay there for a small fee. When you pay your internet service provider (ISP) for internet access, you’re actually paying to access their web servers. ISPs form networks that allow users to access countless web servers around the world. This forms the basis of the public internet.

What Is a Domain? 

A website’s unique web address is known as its domain. It’s the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that users enter into their browsers to visit a website online. Think of it like a digital street address. For example, our domain is go-tnt.com and Google’s is google.com. Easy enough, right?


In reality, domains refer to numerical Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. Every web server and networked device is assigned a unique IP address that identifies it for other devices. However, remembering a string of numbers is much easier for a computer than it is for most humans. That’s why we generally use domain names instead of IP addresses when referring to websites. Without them, we’d have to know and type out the exact IP address of the web server that hosts any given website. Hard pass.


Your website’s domain should be unique and memorable. That way, new and returning users will be able to find your site easily when searching online. Your domain also helps to establish your brand identity and boost your credibility in the eyes of potential customers or clients who are researching your company.


You can purchase a domain from specialized service providers known as domain name registrars, such as GoDaddy. Purchasing a domain will cost around $10 to $15 per year depending on the registrar you choose and the type of extension you want (.com, .net, .org, etc.). This is often one of the first steps when developing a website, because you can reserve a domain name long before your website is ready for hosting.

What Is Web Hosting?

Web hosting is the service that makes your website accessible over the public internet. In simple terms, it's like renting physical storage for all your website’s data. It functions by storing all of your webpages, images, and content in large data centers. These data centers are connected to powerful web servers that deliver information quickly when requested by users’ devices.


There are many web hosting companies such as Bluehost and SiteGround that sell their services to individuals, small businesses, and large corporations. The cost of web hosting generally ranges from $5-$15 per month depending on how much speed, storage space, and bandwidth you need for your entire website to function properly. However, some service providers also offer premium web hosting that can cost much more. This is often necessary for lighting-fast, cutting-edge, enterprise websites that receive incredible numbers of visitors each month.


Like a domain name, paying for web hosting is necessary when developing any website. Unless you own your own data center (unlikely), you’ll need to purchase web hosting before users will be able to visit your site. You can do this near the end of the development cycle, but you must purchase web hosting before the website goes live.

Ask Us about Domain vs. Hosting

When it comes to website design and development, understanding domain vs. hosting is absolutely essential. These two services function together to bring websites to the masses via the World Wide Web. If all this seems too complicated for you, then don’t worry! That’s why we’re here.


If you have still have questions about domain vs. hosting or are looking to build your own website, then we encourage you to give us a call or contact us online. Our team knows the ins and outs of domains, web hosting, website development, and even search engine optimization. We’d be happy to explain the details in plain language and take this digital weight off your shoulders.

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