What Are Domain Names, DNS and Web Hosting?

If you are planning your first website, you will quickly run into three concepts that sound similar but do very different jobs: domain names, DNS and web hosting. Many people mix these up at the beginning, and that confusion often leads to lost emails, websites that do not open, or paying for services you do not actually need. In this article, we will walk through each piece in plain language, using real-world analogies and simple examples. By the end, you will know exactly what you are buying, what you can safely change, and how everything connects together. As the dchost.com team, we spend a lot of time helping new site owners fix small mistakes around domain and DNS settings; this guide is designed so you can avoid those issues from day one and launch your site with confidence.

1. Big Picture: How Domain, DNS and Hosting Fit Together

Let’s start with a simple analogy that we will re-use throughout the article:

• Domain name = the street address you put on your business card.
• DNS = the map system that says “this address points to this building”.
• Web hosting (server) = the actual building where your website “lives”.

When someone types yourname.com into their browser:

1. The browser asks DNS: “Where is this address hosted?”
2. DNS replies with the server’s IP address (like 203.0.113.10).
3. The browser then talks directly to that server, downloads your website files and shows the page.

These three parts are often sold by the same company, but they do not have to be. You can register your domain in one place, manage DNS somewhere else, and host your website on a different server. Understanding the separation between domain registration, DNS hosting and web hosting gives you flexibility and helps you avoid vendor lock-in later. We cover vendor lock-in more deeply in another article, but for now it is enough to know that these are independent layers.

2. What Is a Domain Name?

A domain name is the human-friendly name people type to reach your website or email, like dchost.com or example.net. Computers identify servers using IP addresses (strings of numbers such as 203.0.113.10 or long IPv6 addresses), but those are hard to remember. Domain names solve this by giving you a memorable label.

2.1 Basic structure of a domain

A domain is usually made up of three parts:

• Subdomain – Optional part before the main name, like www or blog in www.example.com.
• Second-level domain – Your main brand or project name, like example in example.com.
• Top-level domain (TLD) – The extension, like .com, .net, .org, country codes like .tr, or newer extensions like .app and .dev.

When you “buy a domain”, you are really renting the right to use that name for a specific time (usually 1–10 years) from an accredited registrar. If you do not renew, it eventually expires and can be registered by someone else. We describe the full domain lifecycle and what happens during grace and redemption periods in more detail in our guide on domain lifecycle and expired domain backorders.

2.2 Domain vs URL

People often use “domain” and “URL” interchangeably, but they are not the same thing:

• Domain: example.com
• URL: https://example.com/products/shoes (protocol + domain + path)

The domain is the base name you register. URLs point to specific pages or files on your website.

2.3 Domain ownership and control

Two important points about domain ownership:

• Legal owner – Make sure the domain is registered in your or your company’s name, not randomly under an agency or former employee. This avoids disputes later.
• Access credentials – Keep login details for your registrar in a safe place and enable two-factor authentication (2FA). Whoever controls the registrar account can redirect your domain and email.

We have a dedicated article on avoiding ownership problems such as “WHOIS vs invoice name mismatches”. If this is a concern, read our guide on domain and hosting ownership best practices.

3. What Is DNS and Why Do You Need It?

DNS (Domain Name System) is a globally distributed database that translates domain names into IP addresses and other technical information. It is like the world’s phone book or map for the internet: you ask “Where is example.com?” and DNS responds with “Here is the IP address and other records you need.”

3.1 DNS in simple terms

Imagine you have the address “Main Street 10” written on a paper, but you need directions. You open a map app, type the address, and it shows you the exact location. DNS acts like that map app for your browser and email client.

When your visitor’s browser looks up your domain:

1. It asks a DNS server: “What are the records for this domain?”
2. The DNS server returns different record types (A, AAAA, MX, etc.).
3. The browser uses the relevant record (usually an A or AAAA record) to connect to your web hosting server.

3.2 Common DNS records (without deep technical details)

You do not have to become a DNS expert, but it helps to know what the main record types mean:

• A record – Points your domain to an IPv4 address (e.g., 203.0.113.10).
• AAAA record – Points your domain to an IPv6 address.
• CNAME record – An alias; says “this name is actually another name”. Often used for subdomains like blog.example.com.
• MX record – Tells the internet which server handles email for your domain.
• TXT record – Used for verification and security settings (SPF, DKIM, etc.).

If you want a slightly more detailed yet still beginner-friendly explanation, we have a separate article: what DNS records are and how A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT and SRV work.

3.3 DNS propagation in plain language

Whenever you change DNS (for example, pointing your domain to a new hosting server), that information has to spread across many DNS servers worldwide. This process is called DNS propagation. It usually takes from a few minutes to a couple of hours, but in some cases it can appear to take up to 24 hours.

During this time:

• Some visitors may still see your old server.
• Other visitors already reach your new server.

This is normal, not a bug. If you want to dig deeper into why propagation takes time and how you can plan around it, see our guide on what DNS propagation is and how to speed it up.

4. What Is Web Hosting?

Web hosting is the service that provides the actual server where your website’s files, databases, and sometimes emails are stored. If your domain is the street address and DNS is the map, hosting is the physical building that must exist so that visitors have somewhere to “arrive”.

4.1 What lives on a hosting server?

On your hosting account or server you will typically keep:

• Your website files (HTML, images, CSS, JavaScript)
• Your application code (WordPress, Laravel, custom PHP, Node.js etc.)
• Your databases (for example, MySQL or MariaDB for WordPress)
• Optionally, your business email if you use hosting-based email

When someone visits your site, the hosting server processes their request (runs PHP or another language if needed), pulls data from the database, and sends the final page back to their browser.

4.2 Types of hosting in simple terms

From a beginner’s perspective, you will usually meet these options:

• Shared hosting – Many small websites share the same physical server. Affordable and simple to manage; ideal for personal sites, blogs and early-stage small business sites.
• VPS (Virtual Private Server) – A virtual server with dedicated resources and full control. Better performance and flexibility for growing WordPress, WooCommerce or custom apps.
• Dedicated server – An entire physical server reserved just for you. Used for very high traffic, special compliance needs or custom infrastructures.
• Colocation – You own the physical server hardware, but place it in a professional data center and pay for power, bandwidth and space.

At dchost.com we offer shared hosting, VPS, dedicated servers and colocation, so you can start small and grow without changing provider. If you want a more technical perspective on how these layers interact, read our article on how web hosting, domain, DNS and SSL work together.

4.3 Hosting vs DNS vs registrar

It is very common for beginners to think all three are the same. In reality:

• Registrar – Where you register and renew the domain name itself.
• DNS hosting provider – Where your DNS records are stored and edited.
• Web hosting provider – Where your site’s files and databases live.

One company (like dchost.com) can provide all three, which simplifies management. But technically, these are separate roles.

5. How Domain, DNS and Hosting Work Together: A Simple Example

Let’s walk through a realistic scenario: you are starting a small business and want a basic website and email on your own domain.

5.1 Step 1: Choose your domain name

You brainstorm a few options and pick brightbakery.com because it is short, brandable and easy to say on the phone. Before registering, you quickly search whether the name is available as a domain and on major social networks. If you need detailed advice on this stage, we recommend reading our guide on choosing an SEO-friendly domain name for your business.

5.2 Step 2: Register the domain

You register brightbakery.com for several years via your dchost.com account to avoid accidental expiration. During registration, you:

• Enter your real company details as the owner.
• Enable WHOIS privacy if appropriate in your jurisdiction.
• Store login credentials in your password manager.

5.3 Step 3: Order a hosting plan

Because your site is small and early-stage, you choose a shared hosting plan at dchost.com. The plan includes:

• Disk space for your website files
• MySQL/MariaDB database support for WordPress
• Free SSL certificate integration
• Optional email hosting on your domain

5.4 Step 4: Point your domain to the hosting (nameservers or A record)

There are two common ways to connect your domain and hosting:

1. Change nameservers to dchost.com – You log in to your registrar and set the nameservers (for example, ns1.dchost.com and ns2.dchost.com). From that moment, DNS for your domain is controlled via your hosting panel.
2. Keep DNS elsewhere, point A record to dchost.com – You leave nameservers where they are, but edit the A record so that brightbakery.com points to your dchost.com server’s IP.

For most new users, changing nameservers to your hosting provider is simpler, because you manage domain and hosting in one place. We describe the full process in our practical article on how to connect a new domain to your hosting step-by-step.

5.5 Step 5: Install your website and SSL

Once DNS is pointing correctly and propagation starts, you:

• Log in to your control panel.
• Install WordPress or upload your custom site.
• Enable a free SSL certificate to serve your site over https://.

From now on, when someone visits https://brightbakery.com:

1. DNS tells their browser which IP address to use.
2. The browser connects to your dchost.com hosting server.
3. The server returns your site’s content securely over HTTPS.

5.6 Step 6: Set up email on your domain (optional)

If you want email like [email protected], you add appropriate MX and TXT records (for SPF, DKIM, etc.) in DNS and configure email accounts on your hosting. The important point: email routing is controlled by DNS records, not by the website itself. This is why changing DNS incorrectly can suddenly break your email, even if your website still works.

6. Common Beginner Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

After helping many customers at dchost.com, we see the same patterns over and over. Here are the most common pitfalls and how you can avoid them.

6.1 Confusing registrar and hosting logins

Problem:

• You have one account where you bought your domain.
• Another account where your website is hosted.
• You mix them up and try to change DNS in the wrong place.

Solution: Clearly label your accounts. In your notes, write “Domain registrar login” and “Hosting login”. When you want to change who owns the domain or renew it, go to the registrar. When you want to upload website files or create email accounts, go to hosting.

6.2 Breaking email when changing hosting

Problem: You move your website to a new hosting provider, change nameservers or A records, and suddenly your email stops working. This happens because your new DNS settings no longer include the correct MX records or SPF/DKIM entries.

Solution: Before changing DNS, take screenshots or notes of existing MX, TXT and SPF records. Recreate them on the new DNS platform. We have a full explanation of why email often breaks during domain or hosting moves, with a checklist to avoid it, in our article on why domain transfers break email and how to avoid it.

6.3 Forgetting to renew the domain

Problem: Your website and email suddenly stop working. You panic, log in everywhere, and then notice the real issue: the domain itself expired.

Solution:

• Enable auto-renewal at your registrar.
• Use an email address outside that domain for registrar notifications (so you still get reminders even if the domain is down).
• Consider registering critical domains for multiple years at a time.

6.4 Editing random DNS records “to see what happens”

Problem: You change A, MX or CNAME records without fully understanding them, and your site or email stop working. Undoing changes is sometimes not straightforward, especially if a lot of time passes.

Solution:

• Before touching DNS, export a backup or write down all existing records.
• Change one thing at a time and wait for propagation before making further changes.
• If in doubt, open a support ticket with your hosting provider and explain what you want to achieve.

6.5 Expecting instant changes everywhere

Problem: You update DNS or move hosting, then refresh your browser and expect everything to work immediately. When it doesn’t, you keep changing things and create a bigger mess.

Solution: Remember DNS propagation. After a change, be patient for at least 30–60 minutes, and test from a different device or mobile network. Avoid repeatedly editing records in that period; instead, verify once, then let the change spread.

7. Choosing the Right Setup for Your First Website

You now understand the roles of domain names, DNS and web hosting. The next question is: What is the simplest, safest setup for your situation?

7.1 If you only want to reserve a name (no website yet)

Sometimes your first step is just protecting your brand name while you are still working on the website concept. In that case:

• Register the domain in your own or your company’s name.
• Enable auto-renewal.
• Use the registrar’s default DNS settings.
• Optionally, create a basic “coming soon” page or redirect to an existing social profile.

You do not need hosting immediately, but do not wait too long if you plan to build a site; having a proper site and email on your own domain makes a strong difference in trust.

7.2 If you want a simple business website and email

For a classic small business site (homepage, about, services, contact form, maybe a blog):

• Register your chosen domain.
• Order a shared hosting plan at dchost.com.
• Point the domain’s nameservers to dchost.com so we handle DNS.
• Install WordPress or your preferred CMS.
• Set up email addresses like [email protected].

This setup keeps everything under one roof, which makes support and troubleshooting easier, especially at the beginning.

7.3 If you are launching an online store or SaaS

For a WooCommerce store, online course platform, or SaaS project, you will outgrow basic shared hosting faster. In that case, we usually recommend:

• Start with a well-sized VPS at dchost.com for more consistent performance and flexibility.
• Attach your domain via DNS and enable SSL from day one.
• Plan for backups, uptime monitoring and security from the start.

We have many advanced articles on choosing resources (CPU, RAM, disk, bandwidth) and scaling strategies, but you don’t need all of that on day one. It is more important that you understand where your domain is registered, who manages DNS, and where your site is actually hosted. Once those basics are clear, upgrading the underlying server later is straightforward.

8. Next Steps: Putting Your Knowledge Into Action

Domain names, DNS and web hosting can look intimidating at first glance, especially when you are just trying to get a simple website online. But once you see them as three separate pieces—a name, a map and a building—the picture becomes much clearer. At dchost.com, we see that most beginner problems come not from complicated technology, but from small misunderstandings about who controls what: the registrar vs DNS vs the hosting server.

As your next step, decide what stage you are at. If you are still choosing a name, invest a bit of time into a good, long-term domain choice and register it in your own name. If you are ready to go online, pick a suitable hosting plan, connect your domain following a structured checklist, and let DNS propagate before making further changes. When you need to move hosting or adjust DNS later, treat it as a planned action—not an emergency—and always take notes or backups of existing records first. And if you ever feel unsure, our team at dchost.com is here to help you connect your domain, DNS and hosting in a clean, low-risk way so you can focus on your content and business rather than low-level technical details.