DEV Community

Cover image for How the Web Works (HTTP, DNS, Domains, Hosting)
Esimit Karlgusta
Esimit Karlgusta

Posted on

How the Web Works (HTTP, DNS, Domains, Hosting)

#web3 #webdev #beginners #programming

Before you start building your SaaS, it helps to understand how the web actually works. Don’t worry, we’ll keep it simple.

1. Domains

  • A domain is like the address of your house on the internet.
  • Examples: google.com or mycoolapp.com.
  • You buy a domain from a domain registrar like Namecheap or GoDaddy.
  • When someone types your domain, the internet knows where to find your app.

2. DNS (Domain Name System)

  • Think of DNS as the phonebook of the internet.
  • Computers don’t understand mycoolapp.com — they understand IP addresses (e.g., 142.250.190.14).
  • DNS converts your domain into the IP address of your server.
  • Without DNS, you’d have to type numbers instead of names to visit websites.

3. Hosting

  • Hosting is like the land your house sits on.
  • You need a computer (server) to store your app and make it accessible online.
  • Hosting providers like Vercel, Netlify, Hetzner, or AWS rent this land so you don’t have to manage servers yourself.
  • Deploying your app = putting your code on these servers so the world can see it.

4. HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol)

  • HTTP is how browsers and servers talk.
  • When you type a domain:
  1. Browser asks DNS: “Where is this website?”
  2. DNS replies with the server’s IP address.
  3. Browser sends an HTTP request to the server.
  4. Server responds with HTML, CSS, JS.
  5. Browser renders the page.
    • HTTPS is just a secure version with encryption.

💡 Startup Update
By the way, if you’re building a web app quickly, I’ve been working on Sassypack — a MERN Starter Kit. It comes with authentication, Paystack payments, landing pages, and a ready-to-go folder structure. Perfect for shipping fast without worrying about setup.

Top comments (0)