Hosting

Every site has files, and often a database server and various other components. Those elements must live somewhere. A Web Host provides the machines that contain those files or run those services. When people request pages by typing in a URL it is the Web Host who serves them up. Hosting is distinct from Registration although many registrars offer hosting services, and many hosts offer registration services. In general it’s a better idea to register through your host than to host through your registrar. Hosting requires a much higher level of attention and customer service than registration does.

Registration

Domain names are not really owned but are leased. You lease them from a registrar, who is ultimately responsible for the technical control of the domain name. All a registration includes is the right to use a particular URL for a set period, usually a year or two at a time (and up to 10 years). It does not include hosting – although most registrars try to rope you into their hosting plans when you register a domain name. Don’t be fooled – you don’t need it. It’s not always a bad thing to host via a registrar, but it often is since their support services can be spotty (in our experience).

TLA

Three-Letter-Acronym. Something nerds use so they don’t have to say the whole phrase over and over again.

TLD

Top Level Domain. For example, .com or .net. An indication of why they are called “top-level” is that they are the last term in a URL. The machines that organize the internet look first for the top-level domain, then on down the URL from right to left when they are “resolving” domain names (and connecting you to the computer associated, via a number, to that URL).

URL

Uniform Resource Locator. Fancy name for a link.