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What Is a Hostname?

A hostname is the name of a specific device, server, or service in a network. In the context of domain names, a hostname is often part of a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN). For example, in mail.nic.ua, the word mail is the hostname.

In simple terms, a hostname helps distinguish one server or service from another within the same domain: for example, www for a website, mail for email, or api for an API. Hostnames are used in DNS, server configuration, email services, SSL certificates, and network applications.

Popular Questions About Hostnames

  • What is a hostname in simple words?

    A hostname is the name of a specific host (server, device, or service) in a network. For example, in mail.example.com, the word mail is the hostname.

  • How is a hostname different from a domain?

    A domain is the main name (for example, example.com), while a hostname is the name of a specific node within that domain (for example, www, mail, or api). Together, they can form an FQDN such as api.example.com.

  • Where is a hostname used?

    Hostnames are used in DNS records, web and mail server settings, SSL/TLS certificates, internal networks, cloud services, and applications — anywhere a specific host or service must be identified.