This is one of the very first questions clients ask when ordering a website for the first time — and one of the most commonly confused terms in the industry.
Domain
A domain is your website's address — for example, yourcompany.com. Think of it like a business name and street address: a unique string of characters that people type into their browser to find you. You register a domain for a set period (usually a year) through a provider such as OVH, Namecheap, or similar services.
Hosting
Hosting is the space where your website's files actually live — a server that delivers them to anyone who types in your domain. Without hosting, a domain is just a reserved name with nowhere to go. Think of it as having a street address but no building behind it.
The most common mix-up
Someone buys a domain and assumes their website is already live. In reality, you need both — the domain as the address and hosting as the place where the site actually lives — and the two need to be properly connected to each other.
The good news: you don't have to figure any of this out on your own. When I build your website, I also help you choose and set up the right domain and hosting, so the whole process — from idea to a live site at your own address — runs smoothly and without unnecessary headaches on your end.