Hosting vs Domain: What's the Difference?
A domain name and web hosting perform different jobs. Understanding both makes it easier to launch and manage a website.
What Is a Domain Name?
A domain is the human-readable address visitors use to reach a website, such as example.com. DNS translates that name into the infrastructure where the site is hosted.
What Is Web Hosting?
Hosting provides the server environment that stores and delivers website files, applications, databases and related resources.
How They Work Together
The domain points visitors toward the hosting environment through DNS records. The server then responds with the requested website resources.
Common Mistakes
Keep domain renewal information current, configure DNS carefully, use HTTPS, and make sure the domain points to the correct hosting environment before changing production records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy a domain without hosting?
Yes. A domain can exist independently, although a website needs hosting or another publishing platform to serve content.