WDH-032 Websites, Domains & Internet Infrastructure
How do the domain, website, registrar, registrant and hosting provider fit together?¶
They describe different roles in the service chain and must not be treated as interchangeable.
- Domain: the internet name.
- Website: the content and functionality reached through that name.
- Registrar: the company through which the domain is registered and managed.
- Registrant: the person or organisation recorded as holding the registration.
- Hosting provider: the organisation supplying some or all of the infrastructure.
Why the roles separate¶
The registrant may register the domain through one provider and host it elsewhere. A developer may manage the site. Employees may publish content. A platform may provide the service. A CDN may sit in front of the origin host.
Match each role to its records¶
- registrar — account, payment and registration access;
- host — customer, infrastructure and administrative access;
- platform — publishing and user activity;
- payment provider — beneficiary and transaction information.
The strongest evidence often comes from common identifiers across several providers, such as email addresses, payment methods, login IP addresses, telephone numbers or devices.
Key takeaway
Establish each role separately, for the relevant period, before attributing responsibility.