difference between domain name & web hosting

Difference Between Domain Name & Web Hosting

It is very common for novices to mix up a domain name with a web hosting. However, it is very important to be crystal clear on the differences between the two before you move on to your first website.
Domain name and web hosting 101
Simple put: A domain name, is like the address of your house; web hosting on the other hand, is the space in your house where you place your stuff.
Instead of street name and area code, set of words or/and numbers are used for the website’s naming’. The same goes with hosting, computer hard disk and computer memory are used instead of instead of wood and steel for storing and processing data files.

what’s a domain name
When you register a domain, it gives you sole ownership and rights to the name of your site. No one else in the market has the access to the actual name of that particular domain besides you.

However, just because you have a domain does not mean that your content is accessible to the world. For your website to work, you will need a domain name, and a proper-configured web server (hosting). Just be clear that (1) a domain name is like your house address; and, (2) a domain name can be registered only with a domain registrar.

what’s a web hosting
A web hosting normally refers to the web server (big computer) that stores lots of data files).

A web hosting providers normally rent out web servers and network connection to the end-users or the resellers. For most cases, the hosting providers will be the parties handling most server maintenance work (such as backup, root configuration, maintenance, disaster recoveries, etc); but for certain cases, the end users will need to get everything cover by themselves.