Domain Name vs URL vs Website: Key Differences

## Domain Name vs URL vs Website: What Is the Difference? If you have ever tried to explain your website to someone and stumbled over whether to call it your "domain," your "URL," or your "website," you are not alone. These three terms are closely related and often used interchangeably in casual conversation — but they mean different things. Understanding the distinction will help you communicate more clearly, make better decisions when building your online presence, and avoid confusion when setting up hosting, DNS (Domain Name System), or email. ## The Quick Answer Here is the simplest way to think about it: | Term | What It Is | Example | |------|-----------|---------| | **Domain name** | The registered address | `example.com` | | **URL** | The full path to a specific resource | `https://example.com/about?ref=home` | | **Website** | The collection of content hosted at the address | All the pages, images, and files you see when you visit | A domain name is *part of* a URL. A website is what *lives at* the domain name. They are three layers of the same onion. ## What Is a Domain Name? A **domain name** is the human-readable label registered through a Domain Registrar and mapped to a server's IP Address via the DNS (Domain Name System). It is what you register when you "buy a domain." Examples of domain names: - `google.com` - `wikipedia.org` - `bbc.co.uk` - `myblog.photography` A domain name consists of at least two parts: the SLD (Second-Level Domain) (the part you choose, like `google`) and the TLD (Top-Level Domain) (the extension, like `.com`). It may also include a Subdomain like `www` or `blog`. The domain name itself is just the *name* — it points to where your website lives, but it is not the website itself. You can change which server your domain points to without changing the domain name. **Analogy:** A domain name is like your home's street address. The address itself is just a label. The house (website) is the actual structure at that location. ## What Is a URL? A **URL** (Uniform Resource Locator) is the complete address of a specific resource on the internet. It includes the domain name but also contains additional information: ``` https://www.example.com/articles/domain-guide?utm_source=newsletter#section-2 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ └─ Fragment │ │ │ └─ Query string │ │ └─ Path │ └─ Domain name (with subdomain) └─ Protocol ``` The components of a URL: 1. **Protocol** (`https://`) — How the browser should communicate with the server. `https` is secure (encrypted); `http` is not. You may also see `ftp://`, `mailto:`, etc. 2. **Subdomain** (`www`) — An optional prefix. `www` is the most common, but you might see `blog`, `shop`, `api`, etc. 3. **Domain name** (`example.com`) — The registered address. 4. **Path** (`/articles/domain-guide`) — The specific page or file within the website. 5. **Query string** (`?utm_source=newsletter`) — Parameters passed to the page, often used for tracking or filtering. 6. **Fragment** (`#section-2`) — A bookmark to a specific section within a page. Most people only ever see the protocol and domain name in everyday browsing, but every additional component is part of the URL. When you click a link in a marketing email, it probably has a long query string tracking where you came from. **Analogy:** If the domain is your home address, the URL is the full delivery instructions — including which floor, which apartment, and which specific drawer to leave the package in. ## What Is a Website? A **website** is the actual content — the pages, images, videos, code, and data — hosted on a server and accessible via a domain name. When you type a domain name into your browser and the page loads, everything you see and interact with is the website. A website can consist of: - A single page (a "landing page" or "one-pager") - Dozens of pages (a business brochure site) - Millions of pages (a news site, e-commerce store, or social network) The website's files are stored on a **web server** — a computer permanently connected to the internet, running software that knows how to respond to browser requests. The domain name, managed by DNS (Domain Name System), tells browsers which server to contact. **Analogy:** If the domain is your street address, the website is your actual home — the rooms, furniture, and everything inside. ## How They Work Together Here is the sequence of what happens when you visit a website: 1. You type a **domain name** (`example.com`) into your browser. 2. The browser constructs a **URL** (`https://example.com/`). 3. The DNS (Domain Name System) looks up the IP Address for `example.com` and returns it to your browser. 4. Your browser connects to that IP address. 5. The server at that address sends back the **website** — the HTML, CSS, images, and JavaScript that your browser renders as a page. All three elements — domain, URL, and website — play a role in every single page load. ## Common Points of Confusion ### "I bought a domain, so I have a website now, right?" No. Registering a domain name gives you the *address*. You still need: - **Web hosting** — a server to store your website's files - **Website content** — the actual pages (built with a website builder, CMS like WordPress, or custom code) Many people register a domain and then realize they need to set up hosting separately. Your Domain Registrar may offer hosting as an add-on, or you can use a separate hosting provider. ### "My website URL is `facebook.com/mybusiness` — is that my domain?" No. `facebook.com` is Facebook's domain. `/mybusiness` is a path within their website. You do not own that address. If Facebook changes its policies or closes, your "URL" disappears. This is why businesses are always advised to own their own domain rather than relying solely on social media profiles. ### "The URL has `http://` — is that part of the domain name?" No. `http://` or `https://` is the **protocol** — the communication method. The domain name is just `example.com`. Most modern browsers hide the protocol in the address bar unless you click on it. ### "Can two websites have the same domain name?" No. Domain names are unique within the global DNS (Domain Name System). Only one Registrant can hold `example.com` at any given time. This uniqueness is what makes domain names valuable. ## Practical Implications Understanding these distinctions helps you in several real-world situations: **When sharing your website:** - Give people the domain name (`example.com`) for casual reference. - Give people the full URL if they need to reach a specific page. **When setting up your site:** - Register the domain through a Domain Registrar. - Set up hosting with a web host. - Connect them by updating your Nameserver settings or DNS records. **When diagnosing problems:** - "My domain is not working" could mean DNS is broken. - "My website is down" could mean the server is offline. - "My URL is broken" could mean a specific page has moved. **When thinking about SEO:** - Search engines index URLs, not just domain names. - A clean URL structure helps search engines understand your site's organization. ## Key Takeaways - A **domain name** (`example.com`) is the registered address — what you buy from a Domain Registrar. - A **URL** (`https://example.com/page?query#section`) is the full address of a specific resource, including protocol, domain, path, and parameters. - A **website** is the actual content hosted on a server, accessible via the domain name. - You need all three working together: a registered domain, a web server with content, and DNS connecting them. For more on how the address system works under the hood, read How DNS Works: The Internet's Phone Book. To understand all the components of a domain name, read Anatomy of a Domain: Subdomain, SLD, and TLD.