Domain vs Hosting: What’s the Difference & How They Work Together

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One of the most common questions that new users ask is the difference between a “Domain Name” and “Web Hosting”. The reason for this confusion is that many online service companies offer these two vital services in the form of combo deals, which makes users think that they are one and the same, while the role and nature of each is completely different. In this comprehensive guide from MonoVM, in addition to explaining the concept and examples of both, you will learn how they work together through the DNS system.

What is a domain? 

A domain name is the unique address that people use to access your website through their web browsers. For example, addresses like google.com, amazon.com, or monovm.com are all domain names. These memorable names are translated into a server's IP address (like 192.168.1.1) using the DNS (Domain Name System) so that the browser can load your website. A domain is usually made up of two main parts: the domain name (like monovm) and the domain extension or TLD (Top-Level Domain), which includes extensions like .com, .ca, .org or .net.

Key Domain Benefits and Facts

Some of the important things to note about domain names are:

• Branding and Identity: Choosing a good, short, and relevant domain name directly reinforces your brand identity in the minds of your audience.
• Credibility and Trust: Having a unique and authoritative domain name helps organizations and businesses gain more credibility with their audience.
• Uniqueness: Each domain (in combination with the TLD) is completely unique in the world, and you cannot have two websites with exactly the same address.
• Temporary Nature: Contrary to popular belief, domain ownership is not permanent. You “register” the right to use it for a specific period of time (usually 1 to 10 years) and must renew it regularly.

To learn more about the structure and tips for choosing a domain, you can read the educational article What is a Domain Name on the MonoVm blog. Also, if you would like to learn about the different types of domains (e.g. gTLD, ccTLD, etc.), check out the article Different Types of Domains.

What is Web Hosting? 

If your domain is your address, web hosting is where your site actually lives. Web hosting is an online service that provides you with storage space and resources on a powerful computer called a server. This space is actually where all of your site’s files, data, images, videos, and databases are stored so that this content can be accessed by users over the internet.

Types of Web Hosting and the Importance of Choosing the Right One

The type of hosting you choose directly affects the performance, speed, stability, and, consequently, the SEO ranking of your site. You can choose the resources based on your business needs:

Hosting is the core of your website’s performance, impacting speed, stability, and SEO. As your business grows, you can upgrade from shared to VPS or cloud hosting based on your needs. Learn more in our guides on Shared Hosting vs VPS Hosting and Web Hosting vs Cloud Hosting.

Domain vs. Hosting: Key Differences at a Glance

In simple terms, a domain is like the address that users use to log in to a site, and a host is the environment where the site files are located. We have summarized these differences in the table below:

As we have seen, domain and hosting, although essential for online presence, are completely different in function, nature and impact. 

How do domains and hosting work together?

Now that you are familiar with the nature of domains and hosting, we need to see how these two components communicate with each other to get your website online. The key to this connection is the DNS system and the settings of nameservers. Nameservers are the physical connection bridge between your domain name and your hosting server.

In order for the domain to point to the host, you need to register the nameservers received from the hosting company in the domain management panel. These nameservers contain important DNS records, including the A record, which connects the domain address to the IP address of the host server and specifies which server your site files are located on.

Workflow: From Typing the Domain to Displaying the Website

The entire connection process from the moment the address is entered to the display of the site, which occurs within a few milliseconds, includes the following steps:

1. User types domain: You enter the website address in the browser’s address bar. This starts a “DNS query.”
2. DNS lookup initiation: The browser sends the request to a DNS resolver (usually provided by your Internet Service Provider).
3. Local cache resolution: The resolver first checks its local cache. If the corresponding IP address is already stored, the process stops and the answer is returned.
4. Hierarchical search: If the address is not in the cache, the resolver performs a hierarchical search: Root Name Servers → TLD Servers (e.g., .com) → Authoritative Name Servers. The authoritative server holds the final and definitive IP address of your hosting server.
5. Delivery of IP address: The correct IP address is returned to your device.
6. Hosting server delivers website: Now the browser knows the IP of your hosting server and connects to it directly. The hosting server retrieves your website files and displays them to the user.

As you can see, the domain uses DNS to direct users to the host to display the website content.

Domain, Host, and Website: A Third Role

In addition to the domain and host, the third component we should mention is the website itself. A website is a collection of pages, content, media (text, images, videos, etc.), and related code that is ultimately displayed by the browser.

• Domain = Site address: This is what users type into their browser to reach the site
• Host = File storage: This is where all the site files (HTML pages, images, videos, scripts, etc.) are stored
• Site = The web content itself: The collection of files and design that the user sees in the browser. For example, if you install WordPress on a MonoVm VPS server, the domain will direct the user to that VPS, and then the WordPress files (which contain the site content) will be sent to the user.

In other words, a website includes all of your related content that is hosted on a server, and the domain is the bridge between the user and that content.

Domain Registration vs. Web Hosting: The Ownership vs. Lease Debate

When you register a domain, you are essentially taking ownership of a name for a set period of time (say, a year). This is done by a domain registrar. Once registered, you can connect your domain to a hosting service of your choice. Although you could technically get your domain and hosting from two different companies, many large companies, such as MonoVm, offer both services. Choosing a unified management service has significant advantages for you:

• Simplicity of management: You only have one user panel to manage and renew both services. This reduces the chance of forgetting to renew one of them.
• Automatic configuration: If you buy your domain and hosting from the same company, the process of connecting and configuring the nameservers is done automatically and correctly.
• Centralized support: If a problem arises, you will have only one point of contact for technical support.

If you’re planning to buy a domain and hosting, visit our Buy Domain Name page at MonoVm, where you can register your desired domain and choose the right hosting service together in one step. MonoVm ensures fast registration, easy renewals, and expert support whenever you need it.

Common Misconceptions About Web Infrastructure

Here are some of the misconceptions you may encounter as a newbie:

Myth 1: "I can have a website but not buy a domain."

Although developers can edit the Hosts file in the operating system to map the IP address to a custom name and test the site files on the host, this method is temporary and for internal use only. Without a domain, users would have to type the server's IP address numerically into a browser, which is practically impossible.

Myth 2: "Hosting is free with any domain."

Hosting is a resource-intensive service that requires server space, bandwidth, and 24/7 electricity, and is usually not free. Some website builders may offer a free subdomain like yourname.squarespace.com and include hosting in their plan, but this subdomain is their own brand, and the hosting is usually shared and very limited.

Myth 3: “Domain and hosting are permanent.”

Both domain ownership and hosting rentals are temporary and require renewal. International domains are registered for 1 to 10 years, and hosting is usually rented on a monthly or annual basis. If you forget to renew your domain, the domain will expire and eventually become available for public registration. If you don’t renew your hosting, the server will make your files unavailable.

Take your next step

We’ve reached the end of this guide and learned that a domain is your online identity, while web hosting is the technical foundation of your website. Now is the perfect time to invest in an infrastructure that delivers top-tier speed, security, and reliability worldwide. At MonoVm, with over 17 international data centers, we provide a powerful platform to help your online presence grow. If you’re looking for flexibility and dedicated power, you can check out our Web Hosting today. Our expert support team is available 24/7 to answer all your technical questions and help you set up your servers and get your service up and running in no time.