Domain, hosting, and website: what happens if each one stops?
The easiest way to see the difference is to ask what breaks when each one stops:
| What it is | If it stops or expires | |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | Your company's address online, like yourcompany.com | Access to the website may stop, along with email tied to the domain |
| Hosting | Where the website's files run | The website becomes unavailable, and email may be affected if it's tied to the same hosting |
| Website | The pages and content visitors see | Hosting and domain may be fine, but pages show errors or don't work |
That's why each one deserves to be known: where it is, whose name it's in, and when it renews.
When you need it
- You have a new website that needs somewhere to run.
- Your current website is slow or goes down at times, and you don't know why.
- You don't know where your website is hosted, or you've lost touch with whoever set it up.
- Your domain and hosting subscriptions are scattered, and nobody tracks their renewal dates.
What each project's quote defines
No hosting item should be assumed to be included automatically. Each project's quote defines what the service covers, and who is responsible for each item: me, your company, or the hosting provider. Items typically defined include:
- Choosing and setting up hosting
- and connecting the domain to it.
- The hosting provider's cost
- the subscription itself, and how it's paid.
- Hosting specifications
- according to what the website needs.
- SSL certificate
- setting it up and renewing it.
- Renewal tracking
- for hosting and the domain.
- Backups
- whether they exist, how often they're taken, how long they're kept, and who handles restoring them.
- Maintenance and updates
- Technical support
- what it covers, and how to reach it.
- Organizing and documenting access
- Moving an existing website
- if the project requires it.
What I need from you
- Access details for your current domain and hosting, if they exist.
- Information about your website: its type, size, and who built it.
- Who in your company should be informed about renewals or anything that needs a decision.
Service limits
Hosting ultimately depends on the provider and its infrastructure, and I can't guarantee uninterrupted service. What can be done is choosing suitable hosting where that's part of the scope, managing it attentively, and having clear arrangements in place if something goes wrong.
FAQ
Are backups included automatically?
Don't assume so, with my service or with any provider. Always ask: are there backups? How often? Who restores them? With my service, this is defined clearly in the quote.
I don't know where my current website is hosted. Can that be found out?
In many cases, yes. It's possible to trace the hosting starting from the domain settings. Recovering access may require contacting the provider, and depends on the account details you have.
What happens if the hosting subscription isn't renewed?
Providers usually suspend the website once the subscription expires, and files may be deleted after a period, depending on their policy. That's why every agreement should make clear who is responsible for tracking renewals.
Does hosting affect website speed?
Yes, though it isn't the only factor. How the site is built and the size of its images and content matter too. If your website is slow, a review identifies where the problem is before changing hosting.