How to point my domain name to my hosting account

When it comes to creating a website, having a domain name is essential. It’s your online address and the first thing people will see when they visit your site. However, simply purchasing a domain name isn’t enough; you also need to point it to your hosting account in order for visitors to access your site. In this article, we will walk you through the process of pointing your domain name to your hosting account and explain how to do it with different types of hosts.

How to point my domain name to my hosting account

Understanding Domain Names

A domain name is a series of text that identifies your website on the internet. It’s essentially the address of your website, for example, [website.com](http://website.com). When someone types your domain name into their browser, they are directed to your website. However, a domain name doesn’t actually store any files or data itself; it simply points people to your hosting account, which is where all of your website’s files are stored.

Understanding Hosting Accounts

A hosting account is essentially the space on the internet where your website’s files and data are stored. When someone types your domain name into their browser, they are directed to your hosting account, which then serves up the files and data that make up your website. There are different types of hosting accounts available, including shared hosting, dedicated hosting, and cloud hosting, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Pointing Your Domain Name to Your Hosting Account

Once you have purchased a domain name and have a hosting account, the next step is to point your domain name to your hosting account so that people can access your site. This process varies depending on which type of host you have, but we will cover the most common methods below.

Shared Hosting

If you have a shared hosting account, the process of pointing your domain name to your hosting account is usually straightforward. Here’s how it works:

  1. Log in to your cPanel account (this is typically provided by your hosting provider)
  2. Click on the “Domains” section and then click on “Add New Domain”.
  3. Enter your domain name and click on “Save”.
  4. Next, you’ll need to configure your DNS settings. This tells your domain registrar which IP address to associate with your domain name. To do this, log in to your domain registrar account (this is typically provided by your domain registrar) and update the A record for your domain name to point to your hosting provider’s IP address.
  5. Once your DNS settings have propagated, you can upload your website files to your hosting account using an FTP client or through your cPanel file manager.

Dedicated Hosting

If you have a dedicated hosting account, the process of pointing your domain name to your hosting account is slightly more complex. Here’s how it works:

  1. Log in to your cPanel account (this is typically provided by your hosting provider)
  2. Click on the “Domains” section and then click on “Add New Domain”.
  3. Enter your domain name and click on “Save”.
  4. Next, you’ll need to configure your DNS settings. This tells your domain registrar which IP address to associate with your domain name. To do this, log in to your domain registrar account (this is typically provided by your domain registrar) and update the A record for your domain name to point to your hosting provider’s IP address.
  5. Once your DNS settings have propagated, you can upload your website files to your hosting account using an FTP client or through your cPanel file manager.