There are three basic components to the web hosting experience.
- Domain Names – Think of this from a phone book standpoint. Computers all communicate with each other by IP Addresses like 206.221.188.3. There are millions of these numbers out there and there is no way we can remember them all. Our version of a phone book is called a nameserver. The namservers keep track of domain names and there associated IP addresses. Domain names can be registered/renewed for 1- 10 years typically and are done through Registrars and their Resellers.
- Hosting Servers – Web Hosting servers are like the space you would rent for your business. Property Management doesn’t give you shelves or desk or anything but they rent you the space for you to put your equipment in. Web hosting servers are just that, the package that you buy will determine the size of the office your getting. Web hosts don’t give you the website files to put in, that’s what you provide.
- Website files – These are what you the customer provide. These range from .php to .html and can include .mp3 for music or video and .png and .jpg for photos and images. The servers all know how to read and display these files so your visitors don’t see a blank page when they come to your site.