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Domains and DNS
Domain names, registrars, nameservers, DNS records, redirects, and propagation.
Hosting types
Shared hosting, VPS, dedicated hosting, cloud hosting, static hosting, and managed hosting.
Security and backups
SSL, HTTPS, malware scanning, WAF, backups, snapshots, restores, and recovery.
Email and deliverability
MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, aliases, forwarding, shared inboxes, and mailbox hosting.
Performance and resources
Bandwidth, storage, CPU, RAM, caching, CDN, uptime, latency, and resource limits.
Website operations
CMS, WordPress, databases, control panels, migrations, staging, cron, sitemaps, and robots.txt.
Domains and DNS terms
These terms matter when registering a domain, pointing a website to a server, setting up email, moving hosting, or fixing a broken site.
Domain name
A readable website address, such as example.ca or example.com. The domain is the public address people use for the website and often for business email.
Registrar
The company where the domain name is registered. The registrar usually controls domain renewal, ownership records, transfer locks, and nameserver changes.
Registrant
The person or organization listed as the domain holder. This matters because the domain should be controlled by the proper owner, not accidentally by a former helper or unrelated account.
DNS
Domain Name System. DNS is the set of records that tells browsers, email systems, and other services where a domain should point.
Nameservers
The servers that identify where the active DNS records for a domain are managed. Changing nameservers can affect the website, email, subdomains, and verification records.
DNS zone
The collection of DNS records for a domain. A DNS zone may include website records, email records, verification records, security records, and subdomain records.
A record
A DNS record that points a domain or subdomain to an IP address. It is commonly used to point a website to a hosting server.
CNAME record
A DNS record that points one hostname to another hostname. It is often used for www, hosted platforms, verification tools, or third-party services.
TXT record
A text-based DNS record used for verification, email authentication, and service setup. SPF, DKIM, and DMARC often use TXT records.
Subdomain
A named section of a domain, such as blog.example.ca or shop.example.ca. Subdomains can point to the same host or to separate services.
DNS propagation
The period after a DNS change when different networks may see old and new records at different times. It can make migrations feel inconsistent for a while.
TTL
Time to Live. A DNS value that tells systems how long to cache a record before checking again. Lower TTL values can help before planned DNS changes.
301 redirect
A permanent redirect from one URL to another. It is commonly used when a page moves or when index.html, http, or non-canonical versions should point to the preferred URL.
302 redirect
A temporary redirect. It is usually used when a change is not intended to be permanent.
Canonical URL
The preferred version of a page URL. Canonical tags help clarify which URL should be treated as the main version when similar or duplicate URLs exist.
404 error
A “not found” response. It means the server could not find the requested page or file at that URL.
Hosting type terms
These terms describe where and how a website runs. The best choice depends on the site’s needs, not only the hosting label.
Web hosting
The server environment where website files, databases, scripts, images, and applications are stored and delivered to visitors.
Shared hosting
A hosting setup where multiple websites share the same server environment and resources. It can be affordable and simple, but resource consistency may vary.
VPS
Virtual private server. A VPS usually provides more isolated virtual resources and more control than basic shared hosting.
Dedicated server
A physical server usually allocated to one customer or project. It can provide strong control and isolation, but usually costs more and requires more management.
Cloud hosting
Hosting that uses cloud infrastructure rather than a single traditional hosting account. It may be flexible, but pricing and management can be more complex.
Managed hosting
Hosting where the provider handles some technical management, such as updates, monitoring, backups, security, or support. Always check what “managed” includes.
Unmanaged hosting
Hosting where the customer is responsible for more server administration, updates, security, backups, and troubleshooting.
Managed WordPress hosting
Hosting focused on WordPress sites. It may include WordPress-specific caching, backups, staging, updates, security, and support.
Static-site hosting
Hosting for sites made mostly of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, and files without a server-side database. It can be fast and efficient for simple publishing.
Reseller hosting
A hosting account that allows one customer to create and manage multiple hosting accounts for other sites or clients.
Colocation
A setup where a customer owns server hardware but places it in a data centre for power, cooling, connectivity, and physical security.
Control-panel hosting
Hosting that includes a web-based interface for managing files, databases, email, DNS, backups, SSL, and other settings.
Security and backup terms
Security and recovery terms matter because websites can break from updates, mistakes, malware, expired certificates, account compromise, or server problems.
SSL certificate
A certificate that supports encrypted connections between a website and visitors. It helps enable HTTPS.
TLS
Transport Layer Security. The modern security protocol behind secure HTTPS connections. People often still say “SSL” even when TLS is technically involved.
HTTPS
The secure version of HTTP. HTTPS helps protect data moving between a visitor’s browser and the website.
Firewall
A system that filters network traffic based on rules. Hosting firewalls can help block unwanted or risky traffic.
WAF
Web Application Firewall. A security layer designed to help filter attacks against websites and web applications.
Malware scanning
A process that checks website files or hosting accounts for suspicious code, infected files, or known attack patterns.
DDoS protection
Protection against distributed denial-of-service attacks, where many systems flood a website or service with traffic to disrupt availability.
Two-factor authentication
A login protection method that requires a second verification step beyond a password. It is useful for hosting, domain, email, and admin accounts.
Backup
A saved copy of website data used for recovery after deletion, corruption, failed updates, malware, migration problems, or user mistakes.
Restore
The process of using a backup to recover files, databases, email, or the full hosting account.
Snapshot
A point-in-time copy of a server, site, or account. Snapshots can help with rollback, but they are not always a complete backup strategy.
Retention
How long backups are kept. Longer retention can help if a problem is discovered days or weeks after it began.
Email and deliverability terms
Business email is often connected to hosting and domains. A website move or DNS change can affect email if records are not handled carefully.
Mailbox hosting
The service that stores, sends, and receives email for a domain. It may be included with hosting or provided separately.
MX record
A DNS record that tells incoming email where to be delivered. Incorrect MX records can stop email from arriving.
SPF
Sender Policy Framework. A DNS record that helps identify which systems are allowed to send email for a domain.
DKIM
DomainKeys Identified Mail. A system that signs outgoing email so receiving systems can help verify that the message is legitimate.
DMARC
Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance. A policy and reporting system that works with SPF and DKIM to help protect a domain from spoofing.
Email alias
An additional email address that delivers to an existing mailbox. For example, sales@example.ca might deliver to one person’s main mailbox.
Forwarding address
An address that forwards received mail to another address. It can be convenient, but forwarding can create deliverability and accountability issues if overused.
Shared inbox
A mailbox or account used by a team, such as support@ or info@. A proper shared inbox is usually better than everyone sharing one password.
IMAP
A mail access method that keeps messages on the server and syncs them across devices.
POP3
An older mail access method that can download messages to one device. It may be less convenient for modern multi-device use.
SMTP
A protocol used for sending email. Business email setup often includes SMTP settings for outbound mail.
Deliverability
How reliably email reaches recipients’ inboxes instead of being blocked, rejected, delayed, or placed in spam folders.
Performance and resource terms
These terms describe hosting capacity, speed, traffic, limits, and visitor experience.
Bandwidth
The amount of data transferred between a website and its visitors over time. Large pages, images, downloads, and traffic can increase bandwidth use.
Storage
The amount of space available for website files, databases, email, images, backups, logs, and other data.
SSD
Solid-state drive. A storage type that is generally faster than older spinning hard drives.
NVMe
A fast storage technology often used in modern hosting infrastructure. It can improve disk-related performance when other parts of the stack are also well configured.
CPU
Processing power. Website scripts, databases, traffic spikes, and background tasks can use CPU resources.
RAM
Memory available to run applications and handle active work. Larger or busier sites may need more memory.
Resource limits
Limits on CPU, memory, processes, storage, files, database size, or traffic. Hosting plans may have limits even when marketing uses broad language.
Inode
A file-system item. Hosting accounts may limit the number of files and folders, even if storage space appears available.
Cache
A saved copy of content or data used to serve visitors faster. Caching can happen in the browser, server, CMS, CDN, or application.
CDN
Content Delivery Network. A network that can serve website assets from locations closer to visitors, often improving speed and resilience.
Latency
Delay between a request and response. Lower latency can make websites feel more responsive.
Uptime
The general availability of a website or service over time. Uptime claims should be compared with monitoring, backup recovery, and support quality.
Website operation terms
These terms appear when building, maintaining, moving, troubleshooting, or protecting a website.
CMS
Content Management System. Software used to manage website pages, posts, media, users, and settings. WordPress is one common CMS.
WordPress
A popular content-management system used for blogs, business sites, publications, and many other website types.
Plugin
Add-on software that extends a CMS or website. Plugins can add useful features, but too many or poorly maintained plugins can create speed and security problems.
Theme
A design and layout package for a CMS. Themes can affect appearance, performance, accessibility, and compatibility.
Database
A structured storage system used by many websites to store posts, settings, products, users, comments, orders, or other dynamic content.
MySQL / MariaDB
Common database systems used by many web applications, including many WordPress sites.
PHP
A server-side programming language used by many websites and content-management systems, including WordPress.
Control panel
A web-based management interface for hosting features such as files, databases, email accounts, domains, SSL, backups, and DNS.
cPanel
A common hosting control panel used to manage files, databases, email, domains, SSL, backups, and other hosting features.
FTP
File Transfer Protocol. An older method for transferring files to and from a hosting account. Secure alternatives are generally preferred.
SFTP
Secure File Transfer Protocol. A safer way to transfer files compared with traditional FTP.
SSH
Secure Shell. A command-line method for securely accessing a server, usually used by more technical users.
Staging site
A copy or separate version of a website used to test changes before putting them on the live site.
Migration
The process of moving a website, database, email service, domain, or hosting account from one setup to another.
Cron job
A scheduled server task. Cron jobs can run maintenance scripts, backups, imports, updates, or other automated processes.
Error log
A file or report that records server, application, or script errors. Error logs can help troubleshoot broken pages or failed processes.
robots.txt
A file that gives search-engine crawlers instructions about which parts of a site may or may not be crawled.
Sitemap
A file that lists important URLs on a website to help search engines discover and understand site structure.
404 page
A custom page shown when a requested URL cannot be found. A good 404 page helps users continue navigating the site.
Commonly confused hosting terms
Some hosting terms sound similar but refer to different parts of the setup. These distinctions are especially important before changing providers or moving a website.
| Term pair | Difference | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Domain vs hosting | The domain is the address. Hosting is where the website runs. | You can often change hosting without changing the domain. |
| Registrar vs DNS host | The registrar holds the domain registration. DNS may be managed somewhere else. | Changing the wrong setting can break the site or email. |
| Nameservers vs DNS records | Nameservers decide where DNS is managed. DNS records contain the actual instructions. | Changing nameservers can affect all records at once. |
| Backup vs restore | A backup is the saved copy. Restore is using it to recover the site. | A backup is only useful if restore works. |
| Shared hosting vs VPS | Shared hosting uses a shared environment. VPS provides more isolated virtual resources. | A VPS can help growing sites, but it may require more management. |
| SSL vs HTTPS | SSL/TLS is the certificate/security layer. HTTPS is the secure website connection. | A site needs correct certificate and redirect setup to work cleanly. |
| Mailbox vs email alias | A mailbox stores mail. An alias usually forwards or delivers to an existing mailbox. | Aliases are not the same as independent accounts. |
Questions this glossary helps answer
- Who controls the domain registration?
- Where is DNS managed?
- What records are needed for the website and email?
- What is the difference between shared hosting and VPS hosting?
- What does “managed hosting” actually include?
- Are backups included, and can they be restored?
- What happens if nameservers are changed?
- Why might email break during a website move?
- What does SSL do?
- What should be checked before migrating a site?
Related PlanOffers tools and guides
For related comparison help, see the web hosting cost comparison tool, web hosting migration checklist, web hosting comparison guide, and domain names and hosting guide.
Web hosting glossary FAQ
Why do web hosting terms matter?
Web hosting terms matter because domain, DNS, email, SSL, backup, support, and server settings affect whether a website works, whether email is delivered, and whether the site can be recovered after a problem.
Are domain names and hosting the same thing?
No. A domain name is the address people use to reach a site. Hosting is the server environment where the website runs. DNS connects the domain to hosting, email, and other services.
What is the difference between backup and restore?
A backup is a saved copy of website data. A restore is the process of using that backup to recover files, databases, or the full site after a problem.
What term should beginners understand first?
Start with the difference between domain name, DNS, hosting, and email. Those four layers explain many common website setup, migration, and troubleshooting problems.
Is “unlimited hosting” really unlimited?
Usually not in a practical sense. Hosting plans may still have fair-use rules, CPU limits, memory limits, file limits, database limits, support limits, or acceptable-use policies.