What is the difference between webhosting and domain?

[damn gorgeous]

A domain itself does nothing. When you add in a DNS server, a domain can provide a mapping of that name to an IP address. That means when people type the domain into a browser or other internet software, the computer does a DNS lookup and finds out the IP address of the computer that domain points to. An IP address is a unique number assigned to every internet-connected device. For example, if your ISP assigns an IP address to your computer (really it's to your cable or DSL modem, but the idea is the same).

So there needs to be a computer somewhere, that computer runs a web server, and has a copy of the website files which it serves upon request. That's what a web host is.

You can be your own web host, but you'd need to run a DNS server and a web server to do so. FTP (file transfer protocol) is software for transferring files from one computer to another, it is not a web server. Microsoft Publisher is a program for creating the website files, but it is also not a web server.

IIS is a web server that comes with some versions of Windows; you install it from the "Add or Remove Windows Components" page in Control Panel (a subpage of Add/Remove Programs). Apache is the most popular web server, you can download it for free.

[carolyn]

You can not buy a self domain basically. if you buy a domain name as a great hostgator and godaddy.You do not have to worry about fraud.and if you need web hosting space. own domain gives you the right to the name space is where it gets real site's content.

[Nicols]

A domain name, is like the address of your home; web hosting on the other hand, is the space of your house where you place your furniture. 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 as well as processing data files.

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[johntikolo]

Domain is only a name, by itself it doesn't do anything. You cannot register it yourself, it is always done through accredited registrar, so one company or another is always involved. Web-hosting is a set of services: like disk space, internet bandwidth, possibility to access via web browser, possibility to connect via ftp client and (many) others. This is where you point your domain to.

[nickrbson]

I agree with Nicols..

[ACampbell]

So let's clear things up. Domain registration and web hosting are two separate processes, both of which need to be completed in order to create a website and make it live on the internet. Put simply the process is as follows: a domain must be registered by a domain registration company and then that domain name must be hosted on the internet through a web hosting company.

[hosting coupons]

Thanks.I think you copy from wiki....

[uthamaputiran]

Registering your domain gives you sole ownership and rights to the name of your site. No one else has access to the actual name of the domain and it is taken off the market.

However, just because you own the domain doesn't mean you've got a server configured to serve a web site at that domain or to handle email for that domain.

Web hosting provides that server, its network connection, its configuration, and its upkeep. You just need to upload your site to the server and configure your email via an online account control panel.

You can get the Domain name registration service at reasonable cost here Whoisxy.com they provide free whois privacy protection and many free service...

[sreevarthini]

To buy the domain you need to have at least a credit card. The purchase process depends on the payment methods which hosting provider accept. There might me credit card, PayPal, bank wire transfer, Moneybooker or other payment system.

[scott.corbin]

I really like these posts, so informative and refreshing.