Domain Name

[silverpic]

As an ignoramous when it comes to website creation, does buying a domain name allow me to build a website under that name so that anyone typing my domain name will open my website? Sorry if this sounds an obvious question. Any advice welcomed.

[TheChair]

Yes.

[Tuvok]

It does, but you will also need hosting - this is where your site files are actually stored.

Some name sellers will include hosting, some will sell it as an extra, or you can use free hosting sites.

[dieseldick]

yes, i had a website made 5 yrs ago, buy the domain name under .com if you can ( choose carefully ) anyone types what they are looking for and your name of your website fits the description then it will come up in google.

also use google ads and yell.com for your business

[dieseldick]

https://www.fasthosts.co.uk/

[VHG]

>>>>>Yes.

WRONG.

You can buy a domain name, for example to stop someone else grabbing it, but having the domain name does not mean you can create a web site.

For example I am sure Microsoft have registered lots of domain names for future products (Windows 11 for example) but are not using them yet.

As Tuvok say, you then need to get someone to HOST the web site for you.

When you register the domain name it is just that, the domain name is registered by a company called Nominet in England and they have a log in their files that say the domain name is registered to Fred Smith or whatever your name is. That is just "admin".

You then have to contact a hosting company and say you want to host your web site for that domain name on their servers.

So then within the internet system your domain name is "connected" to that hosting company (on a DNS server - Domain Name Server).

So when somebody types in your domain name the internet knows where to go to find the actual web site by looking in the DNS server.

Think of it a bit like a land line telephone. You may have a physical phone in your house, but until the phone company connect it up to their telephone exchange you cant use it.

So until your domain name is linked to a hosting company you cant begin to set up your web site (though you can of course design it on your computer at any time).

[TheChair]

To shout that my answer was wrong was just a little childish, VHG. Presumably, if I'd said that having a driving licence allowed you to drive a car, you'd have yelled "WRONG! In order to drive a car, you need to obtain some fuel".
Furthermore, its quite possible to host your web site yourself. A hosting company is advisable, but not essential.