Plain-English definitions of the terms you'll actually run into when buying a domain or choosing a host.
The company you buy and manage your domain name through (e.g. Namecheap, GoDaddy, Google Domains). The registrar handles renewal, DNS settings, and transfers — it does not necessarily host your website.
The suffix at the end of a domain — .com, .org, .net, or newer ones like .io and .dev. Pricing and renewal cost vary a lot by TLD; some "cheap" TLDs have very expensive renewals.
The public database of who owns a domain — registrant name, contact info, registration/expiry dates, and registrar. Anyone can query it unless WHOIS privacy is enabled.
A service that replaces your personal contact details in the public WHOIS record with the registrar's proxy information, to cut down on spam and reduce exposure to scraping.
The server that answers "where does this domain point to" — it's how a domain name gets connected to your actual web host. Changing nameservers is usually how you switch hosting providers without changing registrars.
The system that translates a domain name (example.com) into an IP address a browser can actually connect to. DNS records (A, CNAME, MX, TXT) control where email, subdomains, and the main site point.
A one-time password your current registrar gives you to authorize moving a domain to a different registrar. Required for every domain transfer.
Your site runs on a server alongside many other customers' sites, splitting the cost. Cheapest option, but performance can be affected by other sites on the same server.
A slice of a physical server reserved just for you, with dedicated resources, even though other VPS instances share the same hardware. More control and consistency than shared hosting, less cost than dedicated.
An entire physical server reserved for one customer. Most expensive tier, used for high-traffic sites or specific compliance/performance requirements.
What enables the padlock/HTTPS on a site — encrypts traffic between the browser and server. Most hosts now include a free certificate (often via Let's Encrypt) rather than charging extra for it.
The percentage of time a host guarantees your site will be reachable — typically quoted as "99.9% uptime." An SLA is the formal commitment, sometimes with service credits if the host falls short.
A registrar-side setting that blocks unauthorized transfers. Must be disabled at your current registrar before a transfer to a new one can start. ICANN also requires a 60-day lock after a domain is first registered or after certain registrant changes.