🌐 Why point a domain to hosting?

Domain and hosting are the two essentials that keep a website online.

• Domain is the website address.
• Hosting stores the website data.

Why you need to point a domain

• Connect the domain to hosting so the site appears on the internet.
• Let people access the site using a memorable address.

How it works 🔧

• Get nameserver or IP information from your hosting provider.
• Configure it in your domain management dashboard.

Three simplest ways to point a domain to hosting 🚀

Point using nameservers

Steps:

1. Log in to your domain management panel.
2. Select the domain you want to point.

Select the domain to point to hosting

3. Replace the default nameservers with the hosting provider’s nameservers (found in the hosting welcome email).

Replace default nameservers with your hosting nameservers

4. Wait for DNS propagation (minutes to hours, up to 24h).
5. Verify by visiting the domain.

Point using IP (A record)

Steps:

1. Log in to your domain management panel.

Select the domain and open DNS settings

2. Open the DNS settings.
3. Add two A records:
   • @ → Hosting IP (from the provider email).
   • www → Hosting IP.

Add two A records

4. Save changes and wait for DNS propagation (minutes to hours).

Point using an intermediate nameserver

To point a domain via an intermediate nameserver such as Cloudflare, Namecheap FreeDNS, or Incapsula, follow these steps:

Steps:

1. Create an account with the intermediate nameserver and confirm required DNS records.
2. In your domain registrar, change the nameservers to the intermediate provider.
3. Wait for propagation.

Common issues when pointing a domain to hosting ⚠️

You may run into issues that prevent your site from working correctly. Understanding these will help you troubleshoot faster.

🚫 Wrong hosting domain

When registering hosting, the provider asks for your domain. If it is incorrect or mismatched, the website may not work.

🚫 Using both methods at once

If you already pointed a domain via nameservers, do not switch to IP (A record) at the same time. It can cause DNS conflicts.

🚫 Incorrect DNS record type

Common DNS record types include:

• A record: Points the domain to the hosting IP.
• CNAME: Points one domain to another.
• MX record: Configures email.

Entering the wrong record type can break connectivity.

🚫 Wrong hosting IP

Hosting IPs are long and easy to mistype. Copy directly from the provider email to avoid confusion with a personal IP.

If errors occur, double-check your settings and wait for DNS updates to finish.

Video guide 🎥

For a visual walkthrough, watch the video below. It covers steps from getting nameserver details to updating settings in your domain manager.

― Source, F8 Official ✔️

Conclusion 🌟

Pointing a domain to hosting is essential for your website to work online. Whether you use nameservers, A records, or an intermediate nameserver, double-check your settings and allow time for DNS propagation. If you encounter issues, review the configuration and try again 🔄. Good luck, and feel free to leave a comment if you need help! 💬😊