CMS, hosting, domain name: the web glossary without jargon

Creating a website quickly means running into technical words: domain name, hosting, CMS, ranking. These terms sound scary, when they actually describe simple things. Here is a web glossary without jargon, with concrete examples, to understand what is being talked about without being a technician.

What is a domain name?

The domain name is a site's address on the internet, what you type in the browser bar, for example a name followed by « .fr ». It is the equivalent of a shop's postal address: unique, it lets clients find you directly. A good domain name is short, easy to remember and to write, and close to the name of the business. It is reserved for a set period and renewed, a little like a subscription.

What is hosting?

Hosting is the space where the site is stored to stay reachable at all times on the internet. If the domain name is the address, hosting is the premises: the physical place where the site « lives ». Without hosting, a site does not exist online. Good hosting keeps the site fast, available and secure, around the clock. It is a part invisible to the visitor, but essential: it is what makes a site respond when its address is typed.

What is a CMS?

CMS stands for « content management system ». It is the tool that lets you edit your own site, without knowing how to code: change some text, add a photo, update opening hours. Think of it as a site's dashboard: from a simple interface, you keep control of your content. A site delivered with a CMS and training in its use stays a tool you master, not a black box to hand over for every change.

What is ranking (SEO)?

Ranking, often called SEO, refers to everything that helps a site appear in search engine results when a client looks for a service. It is what makes the difference between a site that is found and one that stays invisible. Natural search is obtained without paying, through the quality and structure of the site, unlike online advertising.

What is a responsive page?

A responsive site is a site that automatically adapts to the screen size, whether viewed on a computer, tablet or phone. As a large share of visits happens on mobile, a site that is readable and pleasant on a small screen is no longer optional. A non-responsive site, hard to read on a phone, drives visitors away and penalises its own visibility.

What is an SSL certificate (the « https »)?

The SSL certificate is what makes a connection secure between a site and its visitor. It is what shows the little padlock and the « https » at the start of the address. It protects the information exchanged and reassures the visitor. A site without this security may be flagged as « not secure » by the browser, which harms trust.

Frequently asked questions

• Do you need to understand everything to have a site? No. These notions help you talk calmly with a provider, but the technical part can be taken care of. What matters is understanding what each element is for.

• Are domain name and hosting the same thing? No. One is the address, the other is the premises that host the site. Both are needed and go together.

• Are these elements paid every year? The domain name and hosting are recurring costs by nature, because they keep the site online. They should be stated clearly from the start.

In short

Web vocabulary is nothing magical once translated into simple words: the domain name is the address, hosting is the premises, the CMS is the dashboard, ranking is what makes a site visible. Understanding these basics already means talking about your project better, without being impressed by jargon. And the rest, the technical part, can be taken care of from start to finish.

A term still unclear, a question about a project? Just ask. The contact page is there for that, without jargon and without commitment.

Accessible tailor-made, for the long term.