If you do not understand how websites work, or what is required to have one, don't worry - you aren't alone. Customers should be informed in the services they receive, so to do this, the four basic components of having a website are broken down into a simple example - a house.
Hosting (the property)
Just as a house cannot be built without a physical property on which to be built, no website can exist without a place to reside. The term "hosting" simply refers to the server or computer on which the website files and database are placed. Since the purchase, maintenance and support of Internet web servers is expensive, most business and organizations opt to pay for web hosting companies to host their websites. This is similar to renting or leasing a property.
Website (the house)
A house is merely a conglomeration of materials, arranged and built into an identifiable and steady structure. Likewise, a website is a combination of files, images, and content, designed to convey a specific image, or deliver a specific message. These files are stored on a server or computer, and deliver their content when requested by a web browser.
Domain name (the address)
People know how to get to your house by your address, which denotes a unique physical location. In the same fashion, people can get to your website by your domain name (e.g. www.doyleits.com). It instructs the browser to find that specific location on the Internet. Domain names can be registered by many companies on the Internet, including web hosting providers such as WebHost4Life. They can also be registered by domain registration companies such as GoDaddy.com, which allows you to change web hosting providers, if necessary. Once registered, you can then configure the domain name to point to the servers on which your website is hosted.
Email (the mailbox)
The post office knows how to deliver mail to any address - the mailbox could be on the property, it could be in a common area with other mailboxes. Email is delivered to accounts in a similar manner. The same server that hosts your website could also be your email server, or it could be across the country. Either way, as an email traverses the Internet seeking its destination, it will get delivered to that email server.