Domain registration is the method of registering a domain name that specifies one or maybe more IP addresses with such a name that is easy to remember & is easier to use in URLs to identify specific web pages. The domain name registration person or company is called the domain name that is the registrant.
Registration of a domain name is required for a website, other web service or email. You don’t always have to register a new domain name, though. Most companies allow anyone to use sub domains of their domains for a website, or you may have a primary domain address (e.g. yahoo.com, gmail.com).
Requirements for Domain Registration
Domain registration includes the use of the services of the domain name registrar, an approved entity ICANN or regional ccTLD with the authority to assign domain names. Registrars help people & organizations register a domain name with a.com, .biz, .us, .mobi, .name, .org, .net, .info, .pro, tv, etc. extension.
Web hosting & domain registration are 2 components of website operation. But understanding the dissimilarity and using cases is necessary.
VPS hosting is a software account (server) capable of serving and storing website files on the Internet.
Domain Registration rents a human-readable term (e.g., amazon.com) that guides people through a browser to different website documents.
As an example, on Internet, the domain is a “username.” Hosting is a “place” or location where the files of your website reside. That’s the short edition. Yet web hosting vs. domain registration seems to be more relevant than its description.
Disclosure – on this page, I earn referral fees from many businesses. From my own experience as just a regular customer or advisor, all my views & data are to a paying client.
How Domains and Hosting Work
Web hosting and domain registration are often mixed. But understanding exactly what they are doing is crucial.
Domain Registration
Technically, Internet addresses are “IP addresses.” IP addresses are a long string of numbers that are useless to humans.
So in its place of typing a domain to access a website of 192.168.0.1.1, the website owner may register a domain which will route to a certain specific IP address.
You rent it from Internet Corporation for Numbers and Names (ICANN) if you register a domain name. ICANN offers domains via registrars that are licensed.
There’s nothing a territory does on its own. Registration gives you the right wherever you want to “place” your domain.
You can ask it to link to another website – but you’re usually going to want it to guide users to your website … in your hosting account.
Web Hosting
It is a cloud account that “hosts” files from your website.
If you don’t have a domain “pointed” on your hosting account, you can reach it in an IP address using a string of numbers. While you can create your server at home theoretically, most people are buying hosting from the hosting company. It is a company owned lots of pre-configured servers they rent on various plans.
Normally they will include directions for “pointing” your domain to your networking account. They will also provide computer guidance for designing and running your website. But there are also a few other words that complicate things.
There are a few words you will see that need to be explained in the process.
DNS (Domain Name System)
Domain Name System is a program that does the actual work of converting the domain name in an IP address. It will be segregated from your hosting account and domain registration. Usually, you can receive a DNS from your hosting company or the domain registrar.
Content Management System
You will upload and write HTML files to your hosting account on a technical basis.
A content management system (CMS) has become a program that allows you to create, edit, & manage all of your website documents from a single dashboard.
WordPress is the most active content management tool on the Internet. But there are plenty of options available.
eCommerce Software/ Website Builder
On your hosting account server, you can download and run all sorts of applications. Some features allow you to drag & drop features, eCommerce features, & anything you can dream up. Note that all of this code runs on the hosting account that you use a domain name to use.
