DNS
The Domain Name System points a domain name to website, email, and other online services using records managed through a DNS provider.
Plain-language technology guide
Understand the technology behind your online business.
Clear definitions for the hosting, domain, email, security, migration, and performance terms that can affect your buying and operating decisions.
Technical terms without the technical fog.
These explanations focus on what each term means for a website owner or business team. Product pages may use the same definitions as short inline explanations.
Domains and connections
7 termsNameserver
A nameserver identifies where the authoritative DNS records for a domain are hosted and answered.
DNS propagation
The period during which DNS changes spread through cached systems across the internet. Different visitors may temporarily reach different destinations.
SSL/TLS
The encryption technology behind HTTPS. It protects data moving between a visitor's browser and the website server.
DV, OV, and EV validation
DV confirms domain control, OV also verifies the organization, and EV applies the most extensive business and identity checks.
CDN
A Content Delivery Network serves cached website content from locations closer to visitors to reduce delay and origin-server load.
Included domain for one year
One eligible new registration or transfer is included for the first year. The domain renews at its normal price after the included period.
Hosting and infrastructure
9 termsVPS
A Virtual Private Server is an isolated virtual environment with allocated resources and more administrative control than typical shared hosting.
KVM
Kernel-based Virtual Machine is a hardware virtualization technology used to run isolated virtual servers with their own operating systems.
NVMe
A high-speed storage interface designed for solid-state drives. It can reduce delay in database, file, and application operations.
CPU core
A processing unit that executes computing work. More available cores can help a server handle additional simultaneous or processor-intensive tasks.
RAM
Short-term working memory used by the operating system and applications. Insufficient RAM can reduce performance or cause processes to fail.
Inode
A filesystem record representing a file or folder. Hosting inode limits effectively restrict how many files and directories an account can store.
Root access
The highest administrative access on a Linux server, allowing system-wide software and configuration changes with corresponding security responsibility.
DDoS attack
A Distributed Denial-of-Service attack overwhelms a service with traffic from many sources to disrupt legitimate access.
rDNS
Reverse DNS maps an IP address back to a hostname. Properly administered mail systems often use it as one identity signal.
Migration and recovery
6 termsStaging environment
A private copy of a website used to test changes before they are released to the public production site.
Cutover
The planned point when users and services are directed from the old environment to the new one.
Delta sync
A follow-up transfer that copies eligible changes made after the initial migration instead of copying the entire source again.
IMAP
An email protocol that keeps mail on a server and synchronizes messages and folders across supported devices and applications.
RPO
Recovery Point Objective is the maximum acceptable amount of data loss measured in time, such as changes made since the last usable backup.
RTO
Recovery Time Objective is the target time for restoring an affected service after a disruption.
Email and identity
3 termsSPF
Sender Policy Framework is a DNS record that identifies which mail systems are permitted to send email for a domain.
DKIM
DomainKeys Identified Mail adds a cryptographic signature that receiving systems can verify to detect altered or unauthorized messages.
DMARC
A domain policy that builds on SPF and DKIM, tells receivers how to handle failed authentication, and can provide reports.
Compliance, reliability, and growth
8 termsUptime SLA
A Service Level Agreement commitment describing measured availability, exclusions, customer responsibilities, and any eligible remedy.
BAA
A Business Associate Agreement defines certain HIPAA-related responsibilities between a covered organization and a service provider handling protected health information.
PHI and ePHI
Protected Health Information is identifiable health information covered by HIPAA; ePHI is that information in electronic form.
Data residency
The physical or geographic location where data is stored or processed, which may affect contractual, operational, or regulatory requirements.
Shared responsibility
A model that separates what the provider secures or operates from what the customer must configure, maintain, monitor, or govern.
Core Web Vitals
Google experience metrics that evaluate loading speed, interaction responsiveness, and visual stability on real pages.
AI visibility
How clearly a brand, website, or source can be discovered, understood, and cited in AI-assisted search and answer experiences.
Conversion rate
The percentage of visitors who complete a defined action, such as submitting a form, starting a trial, or completing a purchase.