Website basics
Simple explanations of the terms you'll see when getting a website.
What is a website?
A website is a set of pages on the internet that people visit to learn about your business. When someone types your address into their phone or computer, they see your website.
This is what people see when they visit your website.
URLs & domain names
A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the full address in your browser's address bar — like https://alligatorwebsites.com/pricing. Your domain name is the main part: alligatorwebsites.com. Think of a domain name like a piece of property — you buy it, you own it, and it's your address on the internet. Unlike physical property, nobody else in the world can have the same one. We can purchase and manage your domain for you (typically $10–20/year), or you can bring your own.
- https://: protocol. The secure connection (SSL).
- app.: subdomain. An optional prefix that can point to a different server.
- alligatorwebsites: domain name. The name you pick and own.
- .com: top-level domain. The ending (.com, .net, .org, etc.).
- /pricing: page. A specific page on the site.
See also: subdomains, top-level domains, IP addresses, DNS
Top-level domains (.com, .net, .org, ...)
The last part of a domain name — like .com, .net, or .org — is called the top-level domain (TLD). .com is the most common and widely recognized. .org is traditionally for organizations, and .net for networks. In recent years, hundreds of new TLDs have opened up: .io, .dev, .shop, .plumbing, and many more. Each has its own feel, and we can help you pick the right one for your business.
.com is the most popular, but the right choice depends on your business. We can help you pick.
Subdomains
A subdomain is a prefix before your domain name, separated by a dot. For example, app.alligatorwebsites.com is a subdomain of alligatorwebsites.com. Each subdomain can point to a completely different server with a different IP address. Our main website (alligatorwebsites.com) is hosted on Netlify, while app.alligatorwebsites.com points to our own virtual private server (VPS). The old www. prefix is actually a subdomain too — it stands for "World Wide Web." It was common in the early days of the internet, but most modern websites redirect www. to the bare domain.
Different subdomains can point to completely different servers.
IP addresses
Every device connected to the internet has a numbered address called an IP address. It's how computers find each other. There are two versions: IPv4 looks like 164.90.252.58 (four numbers separated by dots) and has been around since the 1980s. IPv6 looks like 2604:a880:4:1d0::5a:c000 (longer, with letters and colons) and was created because the world started running out of IPv4 addresses. You'll never need to type these — that's what domain names are for.
Every device on the internet has one. Domain names exist so you don't have to remember these.
DNS: the internet's phone book
DNS (Domain Name System) is what connects your easy-to-remember domain name to the IP address where your website actually lives. When someone types alligatorwebsites.com into their browser, DNS looks up the IP address behind the scenes and sends them to the right server. It happens in milliseconds. We set all of this up for you.
alligatorwebsites.com
the IP address
164.90.252.58
loads
This happens in milliseconds, every time you visit any website.
Hosting
Hosting is where your website lives. Think of it like renting space on a computer that's always on and always connected to the internet. When someone visits your domain, DNS points them to your hosting server, which sends back your website. We handle all of this for you.
SSL / HTTPS
SSL is the lock icon you see in your browser's address bar. It means the connection between your visitor and your website is private and encrypted. You might see ads for "bank-level encryption" — that's just HTTPS, and every website we build includes it.
Every website we build uses HTTPS. That lock icon means your visitors' info is private.
Updating your website
Need to change your phone number, update a photo, or tweak some text? Just send us an email and we'll take care of it — usually within 24 hours. No software to learn, no logins to remember.
Email us what you need changed. We handle the rest.
SEO & AI — getting found on Google & ChatGPT
SEO stands for search engine optimization. It means setting up your website so Google shows it when people search for your type of business in your area. AI optimization is similar — it helps tools like ChatGPT and Claude find and recommend your business. This space is new and rapidly evolving, and we keep a close eye on developments. We build every site with both in mind.
Good SEO and AI optimization mean your business shows up first — on Google and in AI answers.
Ready to get started? See how our process works or build your website now.