Why Do I Need a Domain or a Host Anyway?

Think of building a web site like building a house.

Your site host is like the plot of land that you will build your house on. Your domain is like your address.

You have to have a plot of land someplace to put your house, right? Same thing with hosting. You need a physical location to hold the website that you are trying to build. Getting a host is like buying that plot of land.

Unfortunately, houses are too big to move anywhere. So with houses, you can't just start building your house anywhere while you look for a good plot of land. You have to pick your plot of land before you can begin building.

Luckily, web sites are small enough that your builders can hold them on their own "plots of land" (their own computers) while you are looking for a host. Then, when you are ready, you can move your web site over to the host of your choice.

Also, you need an address so that people can find your house, right? Again, same with your web site. Your domain serves as your unique address that helps people and computers to find your site. Without it, no one would ever be able to find you!

If you want to build a site that others can see on the internet, it requires a domain, a host, and a site. Without these three items, your web site cannot exist.

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