The difference between hosting and a domain name

Web hosting and a domain name are two distinct elements when it comes to creating an e-commerce store. Although both are necessary to put an e-commerce store online, they are used for different purposes and are often confused. In this article, we will explain the difference between hosting and a domain name and their respective importance.

What is web hosting?

Hosting refers to the place where the files of the e-commerce store are stored and accessible online. It is essentially a storage space on a server connected to the Internet. Hosting is provided by web hosting companies, which manage the servers and technologies necessary to make e-commerce stores accessible online.

When you pay for web hosting, you rent space on a server to store your website's files. This space is usually provided with additional features such as databases, email accounts, SSL certificates, etc.

It's 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 seem attractive, but they may have slow loading times, reduced availability or even security issues.

What is a domain name?

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. Sometimes these are the same companies that sell hosting solutions.

Choosing 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 the natural referencing (SEO) of a website, that is to say its ability to be found and ranked by search engines.

To keep in mind

Web hosting and domain name registration are two different but complementary elements when it comes to creating an e-commerce store.

• Hosting is where the store's files are stored.
• The domain name is the web address used to access the store.

It is important to choose the right domain name and the right hosting to ensure the visibility, reliability and security of your e-commerce store.