Web hosting and domain names are two separate elements when it comes to creating an e-commerce store. Although both are necessary to set up an e-commerce store, they are used for different purposes and are often confused. In this article, we'll explain the difference between hosting and domain names and their respective importance.

 

What is web hosting?

Hosting refers to the place where e-commerce store files are stored and accessed online. Essentially, it's a storage space on a server connected to the Internet. Hosting is provided by Web hosting companies, who manage the servers and technologies needed to make e-commerce stores accessible online.

When you pay for web hosting, you rent space on a server to store your website files. This space is usually supplied with additional functionalities such as databases, e-mail accounts, SSL certificates, and so on.

It is important to choose the right hosting for your e-commerce store, as this affects the speed and reliability of your online store. Cheap hosting may look attractive, but it can have slow loading times, reduced availability or even security problems.

 

What is domain name registration?

A domain name is simply the Web address or URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that Internet users use to access a website. For example, "prestashop.com" is a domain name. Domain names are purchased from companies that manage the sale and registration of domain names.

The choice of a domain name is important because it represents the online identity of the company, organization or person who owns the website. It must be easy to remember, type and pronounce. Domain names can also affect a website's Search Engine Optimization (SEO), i.e. its ability to be found and ranked by search engines.

 

In conclusion,  web hosting and domain name registration are two different but complementary elements when it comes to creating an e-commerce store. Web hosting is where e-commerce store files are stored, while the domain name is the Web address used to access the store. It's important to choose the right domain name and hosting to guarantee the visibility, reliability and security of your e-commerce store.