Skip to content
English
More support
Contact us
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

Website Hosting vs. Domain Hosting, Explained

How Streamline works with custom domains to deliver your website to the public

Last updated: August 2025

One of the trickiest parts of building a website is understanding the difference between website hosting and domain hosting. They sound similar, but they do very different jobs. Many folks wonder why they need both — or whether they even do!

Here’s the good news: if you’re using the Streamline-provided domain (e.g. yourdistrict.specialdistrict.org), we take care of all of this for you. You don’t need to worry about the details.

If you’re using a custom domain (like yourdistrictname.com), read on to see how the two work together.

What is website hosting?

Website hosting is the service of storing all the “stuff” that makes up your site — the code, images, files, and pages — on a server connected to the internet.

Think of it like a house: Streamline builds and maintains a strong, secure digital home for your district, and we help you fill it with content that matters. When people visit, everything is ready to go.

What is a domain, and why do I need one?

A domain (or URL) is the address people type into their browser to find your website.

For example, when you type in www.getstreamline.com, your browser uses that domain to figure out where to go on the internet to find our site.

Every Streamline subscription comes with a free domain:
yourdistrict.specialdistrict.org
You can use this at no additional cost. But if you want a simpler, branded URL (like yourdistrictname.org), you’ll need a custom domain.

What is a domain host?

Here’s where things get interesting. Computers don’t use words like “www.getstreamline.com” — they use numbers (IP addresses), such as 193.414.474.1.

Domain hosts make the translation between human-friendly names and computer-friendly numbers. Their job is to make sure when someone types your URL, they land on the right website quickly and securely.

Without domain hosts, visitors would be stuck trying to guess which of the billions of servers on the internet has your site!

How does this process actually work?

5 step process for web hosting

Every time someone types a domain into their browser, a quick chain of events happens behind the scenes. Here’s a simplified 5-step version (see the diagram above):

  1. User: “Show me the website at www.getstreamline.com!”

  2. Domain Server: “OK, let me check where that is.”

  3. Other Domain Servers: “Got it! That domain maps to the IP address 381.384.13.34.”

  4. Domain Server: “Perfect, I’ll pass that back to the user.”

  5. User: “Thanks! Heading to the website now.”

Once the browser has the IP address, it knows exactly where to fetch the website content hosted on Streamline’s servers.

Putting it all together

  • Website Hosting (Streamline): Builds and maintains your “digital house” (the website itself).

  • Domain Hosting: Acts like the postal service, making sure everyone who types your address finds your house.

Need a domain name?

Your domain name is the web address that you and the public use to navigate to your site (for example: www.acmemud.org).

Streamline includes a free domain name with your monthly subscription. Streamline domain names end in “.specialdistrict.org”.

Here are your options:

  1. Use the free Streamline domain
    Utilize yourdistrictname.specialdistrict.org at no additional cost.

  2. Use Concierge Domain Services
    Want a custom domain but don’t want to manage setup at all? Enroll in our Concierge Domain Services. This includes one custom domain per district at no extra cost, with additional domains available for a small fee. Some subscription plans may include multiple domains. (Want to learn more? Send us an email.)

  3. Apply for a free .gov domain
    Many districts qualify for a .gov domain, which can be a trusted, professional option.

  4. Purchase your own domain
    Buy from a registrar such as GoDaddy, Network Solutions, or NameCheap. We recommend having several administrators on these accounts in case of staff turnover or other unforeseen events. Once purchased, contact Streamline so we can provide the DNS records you’ll need to connect your custom domain to your Streamline website.

✨ In short: Streamline makes sure your website is always secure, professional, and accessible. Whether you use our provided domain or a custom one, we’ll ensure visitors find your “digital house” every time.