What are the things that I have to consider to get a website up and going?

Web hosting is a kind of Internet service provided by web hosting service providers that allows individuals and companies to provide their own websites available via the World Wide Web. The service providers provide the space on a server they own and operate for use by the hosting clients as well as providing Internet connectivity.

It was in 1998 that Network Solutions lost its government sanctioned hold as the sole registrar of domain names. While it still retains the management of the root registry, there are now other registrars out there competing for a share of this big business. These registrars have their own interface, prices, terms and conditions, and support.

The domain name registrars have the access and can modify domain name database that contains the records of all the domain names registered. The regulating body that is overseeing the domain name industry is the ICANN. It is the organization tasked to certify and accredit companies as domain name registrars.

Overview

In simple terms, a domain name registrar is a service provided to officially register desired website domain name so that it is unique to you, and no one else can claim it. Besides the processing of registration of new domain names, the domain name registrars also do renewals, transfers, and other requests on behalf of people registering domain names. It started with only one company that could register domain names, but now there are literally hundreds of domain name registrars. All information appertaining to domain names are stored in the Whois database.