Your domain name is the address customers use to find your website, such as yourbusiness.com.

Registering a domain gives you the exclusive right to use that name for a limited registration period, commonly one year. It does not mean that the domain has been purchased permanently.

Domain registration helps provide:

• Continued control of your website name
• Domain registry and registrar services
• DNS management
• Protection against expiration
• Connection between your domain and website

Website hosting stores your website's pages, images, databases, forms, software, and other files on an internet-connected server.

That server must continue operating so customers can visit your website at any time.

Hosting may provide:

• Server space for your website
• Bandwidth for website visitors
• Database and file storage
• Security monitoring
• Server maintenance and updates
• Backups when included in your plan
• Technical support

If Your Domain Expires

The following may occur:

• Your website address may stop working
• Domain-based email may stop working
• The domain may enter a recovery or redemption period
• Additional recovery fees may apply
• The domain may be placed into an auction
• Another person or company may register it
• You may be unable to get it back

If Your Hosting Expires

The following may occur:

• Your website may be suspended
• Your pages and contact forms may stop working
• Your website database may become inaccessible
• Backups may eventually be deleted
• Your website files may be removed from the server
• Restoration may require additional work and fees
• Deleted files may not be recoverable