What is a Domain and Hosting?
When you want to create a website, the first two terms you'll hear are domain and hosting. Many people confuse these or consider them the same thing. In reality, they are separate services — but they work together.
What is a Domain?
A domain is your website's internet address — what you type into the browser's address bar: azhosting.az, google.com, facebook.com — these are all domains.
Think of it this way: a domain is your home address. You tell friends your address and they can find you. A domain works the same way — visitors type your domain name to find your website.
Domain names end with extensions like .az, .com, .net, .org. For Azerbaijani businesses, .az or .com.az is the best choice — it gives an advantage in local search results.
What is Hosting?
Hosting is the place on an internet server where your website's files, images, and database are stored.
Continuing the analogy: hosting is the house itself. Without an address (domain) you can't find the house, and without a house (hosting) there's nowhere for the address to point. Both are needed together.
Hosting servers are powerful computers running 24/7. When someone visits your site, the server reads those files and sends them to the visitor.
Domain vs Hosting — Key Differences
| Domain | Hosting | |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Website address | Server where site is stored |
| Analogy | Home address | The home itself |
| Payment | Annual | Monthly or annual |
| Without it | Site can't be found | Site won't open |
How They Work Together
After buying a domain, you need to connect it to hosting via DNS (Domain Name System).
- Visitor types
yoursite.az - DNS finds which server this domain points to
- Server sends the site files to the visitor
- Site opens in browser
This process happens in a fraction of a second. DNS changes usually propagate worldwide within 1–24 hours.
When you buy both domain and hosting from Azhosting.az, DNS is configured automatically — no technical knowledge required.
Conclusion
A domain is your website's address, hosting is your website's home. Without both, your website cannot function.
At Azhosting.az, get a .az domain for 40₼/year and hosting from 4.99₼/month. Buying both together includes free SSL, 24/7 Azerbaijani support, and free site migration.