Before we start to build a website, what you need the most is a domain name and hosting. This is a crucial step that needs to be done in order to publish a website online.
The core difference between domain and hosting is that a domain is an address that allows a visitor to easily find your website on the internet, whereas hosting is the place where the website files are stored. You'll need both a domain and hosting space to have a fully functional website.
Domain Names
A domain name refers to the URL people type in a web browser’s address bar to access your site. In other words, domain names offer a convenient way for people to access websites.
Without it, they would have to use a numerical label assigned to every website and server on the internet, also known as an IP address.
Generally, domain names are comprised of two main parts – a second-level domain (SLD) and a top-level domain (TLD). Second-level domains usually consist of words or phrases, while top-level domains are the predetermined extensions that follow.
For example, in the case of myclassmarketing.com, the second-level domain is myclassmarketing, and .com is the TLD.
Choose the Right Domain Name
- Easy to Pronounce and Spell
- Avoid Hypens
- Avoid Double Letters
- Keep it Short
- Unique and Brandable
Where to Buy .com.my or .my domain name?
- Yeahhost
- Serverfreak
What is Web Hosting?
Web hosting services allow you to publish the website on the internet. In other words, hosting providers will rent a portion of their webserver to store your website’s files and data.
Whenever someone types in your website’s domain name, your web hosting provider will be responsible for sending its content to the visitor.
That said, it is essential to do thorough research before choosing a hosting company. There are a few factors you need to consider, including:
- User-friendliness. Every web host provides a control panel to manage your web hosting account. Make sure the dashboard offered is easy-to-use and has extensive functionality.
- Server speed and uptime. Choose a web hosting company that ensures fast loading speeds and offers an excellent uptime guarantee so that your site experiences minimum downtime.
- Pricing and plans. Before purchasing a hosting plan, it helps to consider the add-ons and renewal fees that would fit your budget in the long-term.
- Customer service. Pick a hosting company with a reliable support team to give you immediate assistance when running into a technical issue.
Read: Step by Step Buy Domain & Hosting
Type of Website Hosting
- Shared web hosting is where multiple websites share the same physical server and have a set amount of storage and resources. Shared hosting is the most affordable option out of all and is perfect for small businesses or personal websites.
- VPS hosting. A physical server is virtually separated into multiple partitions, giving users a private environment with their dedicated resources. This hosting type works great for websites with medium-to-high traffic.
- Cloud hosting. It uses a cluster of different servers to host the website. Whenever one server experiences downtime, another server quickly steps in to keep your site running. Cloud hosting is the ideal solution for sites that need high-availability, such as eCommerce stores.
- Hosting for WordPress. It provides an optimized environment, performance, and security for hosting WordPress sites. This hosting plan offers WordPress-related features and customization options, so you can easily manage and grow your site.
- Email hosting. A web hosting service enables you to create custom email addresses based on your domain name (e.g., name@yourdomain.com).
Malaysia Web Hosting
- NetKL
- ServerFreak
- Yeahhost
- Shinjiru
- Exabytes
International Web Hosting
- Hostinger
- GoDaddy
- SiteGround
- A2Hosting
- Bluehost
- HostGator
Do I Need Web Hosting if I Have a Domain Name?
Yes. A domain name is simply the URL of your website, whereas web hosting is where all of your website's data and files are stored. Your website would be non-existent without web hosting, and your domain name would point to nowhere.
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