This glossary explains, in plain language, the hosting terms used across the HostBarrel Support Hub, from domains and DNS to SSL, PHP, caching, VPS and backups. Each term has a short definition you can read on its own.

Why This Page Exists

Hosting comes with its own vocabulary. You don't need to memorize any of this before using HostBarrel - but if an article mentions a term you don't recognize, check here first.

Domains & DNS

Domain

A domain is the address people type to reach your website, such as example.com. You rent it from a registrar, usually a year at a time.

Registrar

A registrar is the company you register a domain through and renew it with. Your domain's nameservers and transfer lock are controlled at the registrar.

DNS (Domain Name System)

DNS is the internet's directory: it tells browsers and mail servers which server is responsible for a domain. Changing a domain's DNS is how you point it at HostBarrel.

Nameserver

A nameserver is a DNS server that holds the official records for your domain. Whoever runs your domain's nameservers is where its DNS records must be edited.

DNS Record

A DNS record is a single entry in your domain's DNS, such as "send web visitors to this server" or "deliver email to this mail provider". Each record has a type, a name and a value.

A Record

An A record points a domain or subdomain to a server's IP address.

CNAME Record

A CNAME record makes one hostname an alias of another, for example pointing shop.example.com at an address a service gives you.

MX Record

An MX record tells other mail servers where to deliver email for your domain. If your MX records point at the wrong provider, email to your domain will not arrive.

TXT Record (SPF and DKIM)

A TXT record stores text that other services read, most often SPF and DKIM entries that prove your email is genuine, or codes that verify you own the domain.

Propagation

Propagation is the delay between changing a DNS or nameserver setting and that change being seen everywhere on the internet. It usually takes a few hours and can take up to 48.

IP Address

An IP address is the numeric address of a server on the internet, such as 203.0.113.42. Some DNS records, like A records, point directly to an IP address.

EPP Code (Auth Code)

An EPP code, also called an authorization or auth code, is a password for your domain that the new registrar asks for when you transfer the domain away from its current registrar.

WHOIS Privacy

WHOIS privacy hides your personal contact details from the public WHOIS directory, which anyone can search to see who owns a domain.

Security

SSL / HTTPS

SSL is the certificate and encryption that puts the padlock in the browser bar and turns http:// into https://. HostBarrel issues a free certificate automatically for domains hosted on its sites.

Mixed Content

Mixed content is when a page loaded over HTTPS still pulls images, scripts or styles over plain HTTP, which makes browsers warn visitors or hide the padlock.

SSH

SSH (Secure Shell) is an encrypted way to connect to a server's command line from your own computer. It is mainly used on VPS plans.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication means a login needs a one-time code from an app on your phone as well as your password, so a stolen password alone is not enough to get in.

Your Site Itself

WordPress

WordPress is the content management system most HostBarrel sites run on. It lets you build and edit pages, posts and stores without writing code.

Plugin

A plugin is an add-on that gives WordPress a new feature, such as a contact form or an online shop. Faulty or clashing plugins are the most common cause of WordPress errors.

Database

A database is where your site's content is stored: posts, pages, settings, users and store orders. A WordPress site needs both its files and its database, so a full backup includes both.

PHP

PHP is the programming language WordPress is written in. Your site runs on a particular PHP version, which you can change from the site's Tools tab.

Cache / Caching

A cache is a saved copy of a page that can be sent to visitors faster than building the page fresh on every visit. If a change you made doesn't show up, clearing the cache usually fixes it.

SFTP

SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) is a secure way to upload, download and edit your site's files using a program such as FileZilla, WinSCP or Cyberduck.

phpMyAdmin

phpMyAdmin is a web tool for browsing and editing a database's tables, running SQL queries and exporting the database. Changes made in it apply to your live site immediately.

Dev Environment (Staging)

A Dev environment, often called staging, is a separate copy of your site with its own URL, files and database, where you can test changes before they reach your visitors.

301 and 302 Redirects

A redirect sends visitors from one URL to another. A 301 redirect means the page has moved permanently; a 302 redirect means the move is temporary.

Servers

VPS (Virtual Private Server)

A VPS is a virtual server with its own share of a physical machine's processor, memory and storage, which you fully control and configure yourself, unlike shared hosting.

Dedicated Server

A dedicated server is a whole physical machine used by a single customer, so none of its resources are shared with anyone else.

Control Panel

A control panel, such as cPanel, is a web interface for managing websites, email accounts, databases and DNS on a server without using the command line.

CDN (Content Delivery Network)

A CDN is a network of servers around the world that stores copies of your site's static files, such as images, CSS and JavaScript, and serves them from a location close to each visitor so pages load faster.

Backups

Backup / Snapshot

A backup, or snapshot, is a saved copy of your site's files and database from a specific moment, which you can restore if something goes wrong.

Restore

Restoring a backup replaces your site's current files and database with the copy from the backup. Anything changed after the backup was taken is lost, so take a fresh backup first if you're unsure.

Still Confused?

If you run into a term that isn't listed here, or an article uses jargon that doesn't make sense, let us know - see Getting Support: Tickets & Live Chat.