What is a Hostname vs IP

Understanding the difference between a hostname and an IP address is a fundamental skill for anyone managing a website. This course introduces both concepts in clear, practical terms. You’ll learn how IP addresses uniquely identify devices on the internet, how hostnames provide a human-friendly way to reference them, and how the Domain Name System (DNS) connects the two.

Through step-by-step lessons, you’ll discover when to use a hostname vs an IP, how DNS resolution works, and how to troubleshoot common connectivity issues using real-world tools like ping and traceroute. By the end, you’ll have the confidence to apply these concepts to WordPress hosting, DNS configuration, and basic network diagnostics.