HOSTING YOUR OWN WEBSITE FROM YOUR OWN HOME
Why would you want to host a web server from your own home? LOTS of reasons! First of all, it's cheaper. I'm not paying a host provider monthly to host some minimal amount of files with some finite file transfer limit. I'm not constraining what I can and cannot run on the server. I'm not limited as to what server I run! I am not limited as to what I can and can't run on my server. And best of all...it's super cool to run a web server out of your home! To do so you have to master a lot of intricate technologies, demonstrate a knowledge of internet infrastructure and to some extent a mastery of them. It's a fantastic learning experience and you wind up with your own web server.
But it's not simple. I've broken down the process to eight steps, and after you read them you should be well on your way to building your own web server in your home if that's what you have a mind to do.
This first part is simply...what will you call it?
DOMAIN NAMES
According to Wikipedia, "A domain name is an identification string that defines a realm of administrative autonomy, authority or control within the Internet...Domain names are also used as simple identification labels to indicate ownership or control of a resource." So domain names are your part of the internet, the only part of the world wide web that you can call your own, with complete autonomy over it. You're familiar with the web designation www.mywebsite.com. That's the URL or Uniform Resource Locator...the name that point to computer hardware. Your URL will point to your computer and people from anywhere in the world will be able to reach your computer by clicking on your URL. How is this all administered?
Again, Wikipedia says "The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is an American multistakeholder group and nonprofit organization responsible for coordinating the maintenance and procedures of several databases related to the namespaces and numerical spaces of the Internet, ensuring the network's stable and secure operation."
Initially ICANN was completely United States controlled. The world wasn't too thrilled with the Internet run by an American company, and over time it's become less American and more international. ICANN today is committed to a multistakeholder governance mode. Much politics involved!
From the example above www.mywebsite.com .com is called a top-level domain (TLD). In the 1980's, seven TLD's were created, each for a different purpose on the web.