Difference Between Domain Name and Web Hosting

You want to start a website.

Someone mentions domain names. Another person talks about web hosting. You nod along, pretending to understand.

But honestly? You’re confused about what each one does.

Typically, a domain name is your website’s address, such as yoursite.in, while web hosting refers to the space where your website’s files are actually stored.

You need both, but they’re completely different services that serve various purposes.

Most beginners in India mix these up. 

They think buying a domain automatically gives them a website. Or they assume hosting includes a domain name for free.

Sometimes it does. Often it doesn’t. The confusion leads to mistakes.

In this guide, I’ll explain exactly what domain names and web hosting are, how they differ, and how they work together.

Let’s clear up the confusion.

What Is a Domain Name?

A domain name is your website’s address on the internet.

It’s what people type into their browser to find you. Like “google.com” or “amazon.in” or “truehost.co.in.”

Without a domain name, your website would only be accessible through an IP address, which is a long string of numbers like 192.168.1.1, and for sure nobody remembers those.

In India, the popular domain extensions you can use are: 

• .in: India’s country-code domain, which signals local presence and builds trust with Indian audiences.
• .co.in: Commercial domain for India that specifically indicates business operations in India. Great for e-commerce and service providers.
• .com: Global standard domain extension. Recognized worldwide, thus good for businesses with international ambitions or wanting maximum credibility.
• .net: Originally for network companies. Now used as an alternative when .com isn’t available. 
• .org: Designed for organizations and non-profits. Still carries that association, even though anyone can register. 
• .in.net: Indian network domain. Less common but available, and it combines local relevance with network connotation.

Usually, your domain name is permanent, as long as you renew it annually. It becomes your brand identity online.

What Is Web Hosting?

Web hosting is the service that stores your website’s files and makes them accessible on the internet.

Think of it as renting space on a computer that runs 24/7, connected to the internet with high-speed connections.

Your website files, including HTML pages, images, databases, and videos, all live on this server. So, when someone types your domain name, the hosting delivers these files to their browser.

The main types of Web Hosting You Can Buy in India include:

• Shared hosting: Multiple websites share one server’s resources. This makes it the most affordable option and suitable for small websites and blogs with moderate traffic.
• VPS hosting (Virtual Private Server): Dedicated resources on a shared physical server. Your section is isolated from others, so there is more control and better performance, which is ideal for growing businesses needing reliability.
• Dedicated server hosting: An entire physical server dedicated to your website. Therefore, it offers maximum resources and complete control, required for high-traffic sites or resource-intensive applications.
• Cloud hosting: Scalable hosting across multiple servers. Here, resources adjust automatically based on demand, which offers reliability through redundancy and easy scaling.
• WordPress hosting: Optimized specifically for WordPress websites. It includes WordPress pre-installation, automatic updates, and specialized support.
• Reseller hosting: Allows you to sell hosting to your own clients. You buy bulk resources and subdivide them, thus useful for web developers and agencies managing multiple client websites.

In summary, these different hosting types serve different needs. 

When not sure which one to choose, start with shared hosting for new projects and upgrade as your traffic and requirements grow.

What is The Difference Between a Domain Name and Web Hosting

Domain names and web hosting serve completely different functions in making your website work. 

Here’s how they compare:

Aspect	Domain Name	Web Hosting
Purpose	Your website’s address/identity	Storage space for website files
Function	Directs visitors to your website	Stores and delivers your content
What you get	A web address (yoursite.in)	Server space, bandwidth, and email
Registration	Through domain registrars	Through web hosting companies
Technical component	The DNS system directs traffic	Physical/virtual server resources
Renewals	Annual renewal required	Monthly or annual billing
Can exist separately	Yes, can own a domain without hosting	No, needs a domain to be accessible
Portability	Transfer between any registrars	Can move between hosts with some effort

The key takeaway is that both the domain name and web hosting are essential, but neither replaces the other.

A domain without hosting is like having an address for a building that doesn’t exist, and hosting without a domain is like having a building with no address. Nobody can find it.

In short, you need both working together to have a functional website.

How Domain Names and Web Hosting Work Together

Domain name and web hosting work hand in hand to ensure your website displays the visitors. 

They work as follows!

A visitor types “yoursite.co.in” into their browser, and the browser asks DNS servers, “Where is yoursite.co.in located?” 

The DNS server then responds with your hosting server’s IP address. Something like “203.192.45.78.”

Now the browser knows where to find your website. It connects to your web hosting server using that IP address.

Your hosting server receives the request. It locates the files for yoursite.co.in stored on the server.

The server sends these files, including HTML, CSS, images, and whatever makes up your homepage, back to the visitor’s browser.

Then, the browser displays everything that allows the visitor to see your website.

This entire process takes milliseconds. But it requires both pieces:

• The domain name: Translates “yoursite.in” into the technical IP address. Without it, visitors would need to remember “203.192.45.78” to reach you. 
• The hosting: Stores your actual website and serves it when requested. Without hosting, there’s nothing at that IP address to display.

These two are connected through the nameserver settings. 

When you register a domain, you point it to your hosting provider’s nameservers, which tells the internet where to find your website files.

Can You Buy a Domain and Hosting from Different Companies?

Absolutely yes. And this happens frequently.

There’s no requirement to buy both from the same provider.

Many people register domains with one company and purchase hosting from another. Completely normal and fully supported.

Here’s why: 

• Better pricing: Domain registrars often have better domain prices, while hosting companies focus on hosting quality. So, you save money by buying each from specialists.
• Specialized services: Some companies excel at hosting but charge premium domain prices. Or vice versa. You optimize by choosing the best provider for each service.
• Existing relationships: You might already have domains with one registrar but prefer a different company’s hosting. If so, no need to transfer domains just to get better hosting.
• Backup strategy: Keeping them separate means that if your hosting provider has issues, your domain remains secure with a different company. This reduces the risk of losing both simultaneously.

But even so, sometimes it’s convenient to buy both domains and web hosting from the same company.

Many providers bundle domain registration with hosting packages where you manage everything in one place.

This works fine if the provider offers competitive pricing on both services and quality on both fronts.

At Truehost, we offer both domains and hosting. 

Many customers appreciate the convenience of managing everything through one dashboard and how they save big with our competitive pricing. 

How to Choose the Right Domain and Hosting in India

Making smart choices from the start saves problems later. Here is how to choose domains and web hosting in India. 

• Consider your website’s purpose and technology: What type of website are you building? A blog needs different hosting than an e-commerce store. For instance, ASP.NET applications require Windows hosting while PHP/WordPress sites work fine on Linux hosting. Also, your domain should reflect your brand and be easy to remember.
• Evaluate pricing transparency and long-term costs: Look beyond promotional first-year rates. What’s the renewal price for domains and hosting? Calculate three-year total costs, not just initial payments. 
• Check server location for India-based audience: If your visitors are primarily in India, choose hosting with Indian data centers. This is because local servers reduce loading time significantly compared to US or European servers. 
• Assess support quality and availability: You’ll need help eventually. So, verify the provider offers 24/7 support through multiple channels, such as phone, chat, and email. Also, test their response quality before purchasing. 
• Review scalability and growth options: Check the path from shared hosting to VPS or dedicated servers. Can you add more domains? Increase storage or bandwidth? Choose providers offering smooth upgrade processes without forcing complete migrations.
• Verify security features and backup options: Ensure hosting includes free SSL certificates (Let’s Encrypt is standard) and check if automatic backups are included or cost extra. Likewise, review security measures such as firewall protection, malware scanning, and DDoS mitigation. For domains, verify that WHOIS privacy protection is available. 

These considerations apply whether you’re buying from one provider or splitting services between companies.

At Truehost, we’ve structured our services around these priorities. 

You get transparent pricing with no renewal surprises, indian data centers for optimal local performance, 24/7 expert support, clear scalability paths, and comprehensive security included.

Final Summary: Domain Name vs Web Hosting

Domain names and web hosting are both essential, but they serve completely different roles.

Your domain name is your website’s address. The name people type to find you. 

Web hosting, on the other hand, is where your website’s files actually live. It provides server space, bandwidth, and the infrastructure that makes your site accessible. 

You need both. Neither works without the other for a functional website.

They work together through DNS configuration, where your domain points to your hosting provider’s servers. 

Also, you can buy them from the same company or different companies. Both approaches work fine. 

What is important is when choosing, consider your website’s technology requirements, budget for long-term costs, server location for your audience, support quality, scalability options, and security features.

Both investments deserve careful consideration.

Ready to start your website? 

At Truehost, we offer both domain registration and web hosting designed for Indian businesses.

You can register your perfect domain, choose hosting that matches your requirements, and manage everything through one convenient dashboard.