Glossary: Domain, Hosting, DNS, SSL Explained

New to web hosting? This glossary defines the most common terms you will encounter when managing your domains, hosting, and online presence with {{COMPANY_NAME}}.

Domain Terms

Domain Name

A domain name is the human-readable address of a website (e.g., example.com). It replaces the need to remember numeric IP addresses. You register a domain name through a domain registrar like {{COMPANY_NAME}}.

TLD (Top-Level Domain)

The last part of a domain name after the final dot. Examples:

• .com — Commercial (most popular globally)
• .in — India country code TLD
• .net — Network/technology
• .org — Organizations
• .co.in — Commercial India

Subdomain

A subdivision of your main domain, created by adding a prefix. For example, blog.example.com is a subdomain of example.com. Subdomains are free to create and are managed through DNS.

Domain Registrar

A company authorized to sell domain names. {{COMPANY_NAME}} is an ICANN-accredited registrar (or works with accredited partners) to register domains on your behalf.

WHOIS

A public directory that shows who owns a domain name, when it was registered, and when it expires. Some TLDs (like .in) automatically redact personal details from WHOIS for privacy.

Domain Lock (Transfer Lock)

A security feature that prevents your domain from being transferred to another registrar without your authorization. Always keep this enabled unless you intentionally want to transfer.

EPP Code (Auth Code)

A secret code required to transfer a domain from one registrar to another. You can obtain this from your current registrar when initiating a transfer.

Hosting Terms

Web Hosting

A service that provides server space and resources to store your website files and make them accessible on the internet. Without hosting, your website has no home.

Shared Hosting

A hosting environment where multiple websites share the same server resources (CPU, RAM, disk). This is the most affordable option, ideal for small to medium websites.

VPS (Virtual Private Server)

A hosting environment where you get dedicated virtual resources on a physical server. VPS offers more control and resources than shared hosting, suitable for high-traffic sites or custom applications.

Control Panel (cPanel / DirectAdmin)

A web-based interface that lets you manage your hosting account without command-line knowledge. Common tasks include managing files, databases, email accounts, and DNS records. {{COMPANY_NAME}} offers both cPanel and DirectAdmin depending on the plan.

SSO (Single Sign-On)

A login method that lets you access your hosting control panel directly from the {{COMPANY_NAME}} Client Portal without entering a separate username and password.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

A method for uploading and downloading files between your computer and your hosting server. FTP clients like FileZilla are commonly used for this purpose.

SSH (Secure Shell)

A secure command-line method to connect to your hosting server remotely. Available on all {{COMPANY_NAME}} shared hosting plans via CloudLinux.

DNS Terms

DNS (Domain Name System)

The system that translates domain names (example.com) into IP addresses (192.168.1.1) that computers use to locate servers. Think of it as the internet's phone book.

Nameservers

Specialized DNS servers that store the DNS records for your domain. When you point your domain to {{COMPANY_NAME}} nameservers, we manage your DNS records. Nameservers typically come in pairs (ns1.example.com, ns2.example.com).

A Record

A DNS record that maps a domain name directly to an IPv4 address. For example, mapping example.com to 203.0.113.50.

AAAA Record

Similar to an A Record, but maps a domain name to an IPv6 address.

CNAME Record

A DNS record that creates an alias from one domain name to another. For example, mapping www.example.com to example.com.

MX Record (Mail Exchange)

A DNS record that specifies which mail server handles email for your domain. Required for receiving email at your domain (e.g., [email protected]).

TXT Record

A DNS record that holds text information. Commonly used for:

• SPF — Specifies which servers can send email on behalf of your domain
• DKIM — Adds a digital signature to outgoing emails
• Domain Verification — Proving domain ownership to services like Google Workspace

DNS Propagation

The time it takes for DNS changes to spread across the internet. Typically 1-4 hours, but can take up to 48 hours globally. During propagation, some users may see old DNS settings while others see the new ones.

TTL (Time to Live)

A value in DNS records that specifies how long (in seconds) a DNS resolver should cache the record before checking for updates. Lower TTL means faster propagation when you make changes.

Security Terms

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) / TLS

A security protocol that encrypts data transmitted between a website and its visitors. Websites with SSL show https:// and a padlock icon in the browser. SSL certificates are essential for all websites.

Let's Encrypt

A free, automated certificate authority that provides SSL certificates at no cost. Most {{COMPANY_NAME}} hosting plans include free Let's Encrypt SSL certificates.

HTTPS

The secure version of HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). When your website uses HTTPS, all data between the visitor's browser and your server is encrypted. Requires an SSL certificate.

2FA (Two-Factor Authentication)

An extra layer of security for your account that requires both your password and a code from an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator) to log in.

Billing Terms

Proforma Invoice (PI-)

A preliminary invoice generated before payment. It is a request for payment, not a tax document. See Understanding Your Invoice for details.

Tax Invoice (INV-)

The official invoice generated after successful payment. This is a valid GST tax document that can be used for input credit claims.

GST (Goods and Services Tax)

The indirect tax applied to all hosting and domain services in India at 18%. Split as CGST + SGST (intra-state) or IGST (inter-state).

GSTIN

Your GST Identification Number — a 15-digit unique code assigned to registered businesses. Add this to your {{COMPANY_NAME}} account to receive proper GST invoices.

Related Articles

• How to Navigate the Client Portal Dashboard
• How to Order a Domain Name
• How to Order a Hosting Plan
• Understanding Your Invoice (PI vs INV)

Need help? Contact our support team at {{SUPPORT_URL}}/client/support.