May

...first of all, as defined by Wikipedia, a website (also written web site or simply site) is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet address also called URL. ...if you know and understand this definition and all of its terms, you already have a good start towards knowing what you need to know for getting started with the development of your own website, if you don't, not to worry, you will understand this definition, and more, by the time you finish reading this article ;-)

...while early out, when the Internet became widely available to the general public, websites were primarily used by various types of business entities to promote the various commercial (.com) products and/or services they had to offer, however, today, websites have evolved into a worldwide network of content spanning all aspects of our collective daily lives and today are being provided by large corporations, small to medium sized businesses and organizations of all kinds, as well as, by individuals out of the comfort of their own homes

...initially, due to the fact that the speeds (bandwidth) at which we were all capable of browsing the Internet (surfing), was slow and oftentimes limited, websites consisted primarily of "text", along with an occasional photo, with their primary mission being to provide quick, easy access to "information" - which quickly led to the Internet being referred to as the "information superhighway" ...with the accessibility of the high-speed Internet connections that are available to us today, websites now contain a plethora of content including high-quality photos, animations, audio, video and digital downloadable documents of all kinds - collectively, commonly simply referred to as "digital assets"

...a common misunderstanding throughout the entire evolution of the Internet has been the belief by many users that "somewhere out there" there is a "main computer" that "is" the Internet ...instead, the Internet is the collective of millions of computers all over the world connected to, and "talking" to, one another ...how do they all know who and where each one of them is? - this is impossible to answer with a simple single statement, so, here is a basic overview...

...just as we all have a mailing address and phone number, so do all websites have a web address, also known as a Domain Name and/or URL (Universal Resource Locator) - www.yoursite.com - and, an IP (Internet Protocol) Address such as 205.178.187.13 ...amongst the millions of computers that make up the Internet, there are computers that are known as "servers", that perform a wide array of tasks that "make it all work" ...two of the main types of servers are the DNS (Domain Name System or Domain Name Service) Servers and Web Servers

...while computers can quickly read, lookup and process "numbers", as we humans can more easily remember something like www.yoursite.com as opposed to 205.178.187.13, a primary task of the many DNS Servers "out there" is to "look up" (search for) the IP Address of a website when we all type in and submit a URL from our Web Browser's URL Request Field and then "direct" that look up request to the computer which is performing the task of a Web Server, "its" primary task being to "deliver" (serve) the content of the requested website to the computer that requested it ...the combined tasks performed by a DNS Server and Web Server, the storage of all of a website's digital files (assets) and delivering a website's content on the Internet, along with providing other various support services such as Email processing, are collectively referred to as Website Hosting

...just as we live in our houses and store all of "our stuff", so must all of the files that make up the content of your website "live" somewhere ...these files live in unique folders/directories on hard drives connected to computers running the necessary software that allow them to act as a Web Server ...the companies that maintain and provide access to their Web Server computers are typically referred to as a Hosting Service Provider (HSP) ...and just as we must "move" our stuff into our house and store our stuff in the various places of our house dependent upon where individual items are needed or used, the needed files that make up your website must also be moved or "uploaded" to the folder/directory your HSP has assigned and configured for supporting your website ...this is typically done via FTP (File Transfer Protocol) ...there are many FTP Client software applications available, many of them "free", that can be used for uploading and downloading your website files - most HSP's also provide some form of basic FTP Client interface for working with your website files from within your Hosting Account

...the folder/directory where your website lives and all of the files it contains is typically referred to as your website "domain" - which brings us back to your website address, or "Domain Name" - as choosing and "registering" your desired Domain Name - www.yoursite.com - is typically the first step in the process of setting up your own website ...registering your Domain Name is done through organizations known as "Registrars" ...there are many Registrars online today and many of the HSP's also offer the registration of a Domain Name along with the hosting services they provide ...the rates HSP's charge for Domain Name registrations and for the services they provide, varies from HSP to HSP and also varies depending upon the particular range of services you need to support the requirements of your website ...while you "can" register your Domain Name with any Registrar and then host your website with any other HSP you would like, I typically recommend registering your Domain Name with the HSP you "are" going to host with, thereby "keeping everything under one roof", which tends to help make the various tasks you must perform to support and maintain your website much more convenient

...the process of registering your Domain Name ensures that, just like your home address and phone number, that your Domain Name is "unique" and identified as belonging to "you" ...the websites of both Registrars, as well as most HSP's, also typically provide a "domain name search" capability - sometimes referred to as a "who is" search, which helps you check to see if the Domain Name you would like is available, or whether it is already in use and by whom ...one example is the WhoIs search at Network Solutions: http://www.networksolutions.com/whois/index.jsp ...also, some of the larger HSP/Registrar's such as http://www.GoDaddy.com, offer an express Domain Search right from the home page of their website - in either event, the search process is free ...once you have found a Domain Name that you like and is available, you then "register" your Domain Name for a period of one to ten years - in most cases, the longer the period of time you register for, the less expensive it is per year to register ...when whatever time period you have registered your Domain Name for is about to expire, it will be necessary for you to regularly renew your Domain Name Registration for as long as you wish to utilize your chosen Domain Name

...deciding "where" to host your website depends a great deal upon what it is you want to "do" with your site; will your site be for simply providing information? - do you have products and/or services that you want to sell "online" through the site? - do you have information or other digital files such as audio, video or digital documents that you wish to make available to your users as downloads? ...there is also the obvious issue of cost - as with most things in life, the more "bells & whistles" or additional support services you need or want, the more expensive your monthly hosting bill is going to be

...if all of this seems a bit overwhelming, don't let that deter you, while there "is" quite a bit to learn and know in order to develop and maintain your own website, most HSP's have customer support personnel available, many 24/7, to help you throughout the process ...there are also many companies and consultants that specialize in all aspects of website design, development, hosting and support services, that can provide you with personalized assistance with your specific website questions and/or needs - seeking help from such companies and/or individuals "before" you spend a lot of time and/or any money registering your Domain Name and/or potentially signing up for a level of Hosting Services you may not really need, can oftentimes save you considerable time and money in the long run - I just happen to know someone that can help ;-))

...if anyone would like to know more about the types of services I can provide, you can learn more by visiting my web site at: http://www.evadware.com ...I would also be happy to set up a phone call with anyone interested in exploring how I might be of assistance - appointments can be requested through the "Request Info" page at the site, or by dropping me an email here at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

best to all!

:-)

evad