How does a website work?

The first question I am always asked when talking to people about websites is always, "how does a website work?". I will explain the answer to the question as plain and thorough as possible. When you need a website there is three different things needed.

You firstly need a website design.This is the content (pictures, words and stuff) that you see when you visit a website address (url) or search a topic on a search engine (Google, Yahoo, MSN etc.) The cost of the website normally depends on the amount of time spent creating it and production costs (photos etc.). The amount varies from designer to designer. Once the website designer has finished developing (putting the pictures, words and stuff together so that it can work on the internet) the website now needs an address (name i.e. www.itdesign.co.za etc.)

The address is called a domain. This is what people will type in the address bar of their browser (big word for the software you are using to surf the internet) to access your website. The right domain name is very important, but difficult and lengthy to explain here. I will explain it to you when you contact me for a website. The cost of your domain depends on the amount of space your site will take up, the amount of email addresses you need and how many people use your website and download information from it. A domain is bought annually and is payable on it's birthday once a year. Cost varies from company to company.

Hosting your website is the final part of the puzzle. Once you have a website and a domain name you need to park (put all your pictures, text and stuff on a computer that is permanently connected to a very fast internet connection) your content on the internet. The guy, me for instance, will charge a monthly fee to allow you to have your website available to anybody in the world on his computer. This amount varies from company to company.

Riaan Miles

This website banner was created by www.itdesign.co.za