Every website needs two things before WordPress can be installed: a domain name (the address) and web hosting (the computer that stores the site and sends it to visitors).
How a website reaches a visitor
- Visitor types the addressFor example, example.com, in a browser
- DNS finds the serverThe domain's DNS records point to the hosting server's address
- Server runs WordPressWordPress reads the content from the database and builds the page
- Page appearsThe browser receives the page and shows it to the visitor
This takes a fraction of a second on good hosting. On slow hosting, every step feels slower, which is why hosting quality matters.
The domain name
A domain is the address people type, such as mybakery.com or mybakery.pk.
- Registrar: the company you buy and renew the domain from. Domains are rented yearly, not owned forever. If the renewal is missed, the domain can be lost.
- Extensions:
.comis the most familiar worldwide. Country domains such as.pksuit local businesses. - Good names are short, easy to spell and say, and avoid confusing hyphens and numbers.
- DNS: settings that connect the domain to the hosting (and to email services).
Important for freelancers: register the domain in the client's name and account, not yours. If you buy it for them, transfer it and hand over the login. A business should never depend on a freelancer to keep its own address.
Web hosting
Hosting is a server that is always online. Common types:
| Type | Good for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shared hosting | Small business sites, blogs, portfolios | Cheapest; many sites share one server |
| Managed WordPress hosting | Business sites that need speed and support | Costs more; updates, backups and caching often included |
| VPS or cloud | Busy sites, shops, developers | More power and control; needs technical skill |
What to check before buying hosting
- Server location close to the site's visitors, or a CDN (we cover this in module 4).
- Free SSL certificate (HTTPS). WordPress recommends HTTPS for every site, and browsers warn visitors about sites without it.
- Current PHP and database versions. WordPress's official requirements page lists the recommended versions; good hosts support them.
- Backups, and how easy it is to restore one.
- Support that answers quickly, in a language you are comfortable with.
- Renewal price, not just the first-year discount. Many hosts charge much more on renewal.
- Email hosting, if the business wants addresses like
info@mybakery.com.
Honest buying advice
Do not choose hosting only because a review site ranks it first. Many review sites earn commission from hosting companies. Read the host's own terms, check the renewal price, and start with a plan that fits the site's real size. A small business site rarely needs an expensive server; a busy online shop should not be on the cheapest shared plan.
Practice task (15 min)
- Think of three domain names for a fictional bakery and check whether they are available on any registrar's search page (do not buy).
- Compare two hosting plans: write the first-year price, the renewal price, backups, SSL and support for each.
- Write one sentence explaining to a client why the domain must be in their own account.
Sign in or create a free account to save your progress and take the tests. Sign in