As outlined in the chapter Quick Start with Plesk, establishing your web presence fundamentally begins with acquiring a domain name. A domain name (often referred to simply as a domain) serves as the unique address individuals use to access your site via their web browsers, for instance, www.example.com. The process of domain registration is typically managed by authorized companies known as domain name registrars, a service frequently offered by hosting providers themselves. For comprehensive details on managing domains within Plesk, please refer to the section Domains and DNS.
Understanding the Distinction: Domain vs. Website
It's crucial to understand that a domain, by itself, does not constitute a website. To make your domain accessible on the internet and populate it with content, you must subscribe to hosting services. This involves obtaining a customer account that provides your domain with essential resources such as internet connectivity, dedicated disk space for content storage, professional mail services, databases, and often security features. Therefore, a website is effectively a domain paired with robust hosting services that bring it online and make it functional.
Comprehensive Website and Domain Management with Plesk
Plesk offers a complete suite of tools and operations to effectively manage your domains and websites, ensuring a streamlined and efficient online presence:
- Domain and Subdomain Management: Easily add, remove, and manage primary domains, subdomains, and domain aliases to organize your web properties effectively.
- Content Management: Gain full control over your website's content, allowing for seamless updates, uploads, and organization of all digital assets.
- Web Application Deployment: Install a wide array of popular web applications, such as CMS platforms (WordPress, Joomla!), e-commerce solutions, and more, directly through Plesk.
- Connection Security: Implement and manage SSL/TLS certificates to secure connections to your websites, protecting user data and enhancing trust.
- And much more, covering various aspects of web hosting and site administration.
This chapter is dedicated to providing in-depth information on all potential operations related to websites and domains available within the Plesk environment. Please note that the availability of some advanced operations may vary depending on the specific hosting plan you have subscribed to.
