Domain and DNS
Your domain is the address people use. DNS records tell their browsers and email services where to connect.
Hosting glossary
A little less jargon. A lot more clarity.
The useful hosting terms, explained in plain English. Start here when a specification or setup screen feels more complicated than it needs to be.
The practical picture
Know what the terms mean for your website.
Hosting brings several services together: an address, a place to run your website, the settings that connect it and tools to maintain it. Understanding the separate parts makes a change of provider easier to plan.
Hosting and applications
Hosting supplies the environment. WordPress or another application uses that environment to deliver the website.
Maintenance and recovery
Updates, backups and access controls look after different parts of the service. Agree who is responsible for each one.
The terms you will meet.
- Domain name
- The address people use to find your website, such as yourbusiness.co.uk. Registration and renewal are separate from website hosting.
- DNS
- The records that connect your domain to services such as a website or email. A DNS change can affect more than the visible website.
- Nameservers
- The servers that publish the DNS records for your domain. Changing them can change which DNS configuration is used.
- SSL and HTTPS
- The certificate and secure connection used to encrypt traffic between a browser and website. This does not replace application security.
- CMS
- A content management system, such as WordPress, that provides tools for editing and publishing website content.
- PHP
- A programming language used by WordPress and many other web applications. The supported version and extensions matter for compatibility.
- Database
- Structured storage used by an application for information such as content, settings, accounts or orders.
- CDN
- A content delivery network that can deliver suitable content through a distributed network. Personalised content needs appropriate caching rules.
- Cache
- A stored copy or result used to avoid repeating work. Know how it is refreshed when content changes.
- Staging
- A separate copy or environment used to test changes before release. Check what is copied when publishing back to live.
- Backup
- A recovery copy of specified files or data. Its scope, frequency, retention and restore process determine how useful it is.
- WAF
- A web application firewall that checks requests against security rules to help block suspicious traffic.
- Git
- Version control for tracking selected files and changes. It does not automatically include databases, uploads or every part of a website.
- VPS
- A virtual private server with allocated resources and a defined level of control. Confirm who administers and maintains the system.
- Managed hosting
- Hosting with specified management tasks included. Ask which infrastructure and application responsibilities the agreement covers.
- Bandwidth and transfer
- Terms describing data delivery or capacity. Check how the chosen provider defines and measures the allowance.
- MX record
- A DNS record that directs email delivery to a mail service. Preserve the required records when changing website hosting.
- Renewal
- Continuing a registration or subscription for a further period. Check the renewal price and notices separately from an introductory offer.
The details that matter
Turn the specification into a decision.
Ask about the practical effect
Storage, memory and transfer allowances describe different resources. If a limit or feature is unclear, explain the application and ask how that detail affects it.
Keep the service scope in view
Terms such as managed, staging and backup need context. Ask which tasks are included, what a tool changes and who will handle recovery when needed.
Made for the working day
Ask what it means for the working day.
A technical term is most useful when it explains a decision. If a plan mentions caching, ask which pages can use it. If it includes backups, ask how long copies are retained and how restoration works. If a server is described as managed, ask which layer of the service is covered.
Talk through your requirements
A little clarity
Hosting glossary, explained.
Useful answers before you decide. For anything specific to your website, let’s talk it through.
Are a domain and hosting the same thing?
No. You can register a domain and connect it to website hosting or email supplied elsewhere. They are separate services.
Is a server the same as a website?
A server provides computing resources. A website is an application and its content running on those resources. A server may host more than one website.
Where should I start if I am unsure?
Tell us what your website needs to do and which software it uses. We can help translate that into the relevant hosting requirements.
Let’s find the right fit.
Start with your business. We will help with the hosting.