Website basics

20 articles

• Website basicsSeparate the roles of domains, hosting, and DNS Domain registration, hosting, and DNS may live in separate services. Map their roles before trying to fix a site. 2026-09-08
• Website basicsRead the common DNS record types DNS lists contain records with different purposes. Read the type, name, and intended use together. 2026-09-08
• Website basicsVerify a DNS change at three separate layers Saving a DNS record does not prove that every resolver or the website itself is ready. Record dashboard state, DNS answers, and web behavior separately. 2026-09-08
• Website basicsUnderstand what HTTPS protects HTTPS protects communication between the browser and server. It does not by itself establish the trustworthiness of the site's content or operator. 2026-09-08
• Website basicsChoose a consistent www or apex website address The www and apex versions are distinct hostnames. Choose the public address, then verify both connection setup and URL redirection. 2026-09-08
• Website basicsCheck a redirect's destination and intermediate steps A redirect needs a correct destination and a sensible route to it. Reaching some working page is not enough. 2026-09-08
• Website basicsUse HTTP status codes without overinterpreting them HTTP status codes help locate a problem, but they do not prove that the page content or layout is correct. 2026-09-08
• Website basicsLocate the stage where a website fails to open “The site will not open” can describe several different failures. Record the exact URL and first error before changing settings. 2026-09-08
• Website basicsCheck caching when a website update looks old When updated text or images still look old, separate publishing from caching. Locate the stale layer before clearing all browser data. 2026-09-08
• Website basicsList published canonical URLs in a sitemap An XML sitemap helps search engines discover URLs. Submission does not guarantee that each page will appear in search results. 2026-09-08
• Website basicsDistinguish robots.txt from noindex robots.txt controls crawling, while noindex directs search indexing. Neither is a substitute for access control over private information. 2026-09-08
• Website basicsUnderstand canonical annotations and their limits A canonical annotation suggests the representative URL for duplicate content. It does not redirect the browser or force the search engine's choice. 2026-09-08
• Website basicsConnect language editions with content, URLs, and hreflang An EN button does not create an English article. A multilingual site needs language content, corresponding destinations, and search annotations. 2026-09-08
• Website basicsWrite page-specific titles and descriptions Titles and descriptions should explain the individual page, rather than repeat the same site-wide promotion everywhere. 2026-09-08
• Website basicsCheck the title and image used in a social preview Social link cards may use metadata separate from the visible article. Check both Open Graph settings and the publicly available image. 2026-09-08
• Website basicsCheck a favicon's small-scale appearance and URL A favicon must remain recognizable at a small size. Check the shape and the file reference rather than simply shrinking a detailed logo. 2026-09-08
• Website basicsCheck both link availability and destination meaning A 200 response does not prove that a link still supports its surrounding text. Check availability and meaning separately. 2026-09-08
• Website basicsTest a contact form through to actual receipt A success message does not prove that the responsible person received a contact request. Test the whole path on a form you manage. 2026-09-08
• Website basicsReview domain renewal dates and responsibility A working website does not tell you whether its domain renewal is under control. Review the registrar, dates, notification route, and responsible person. 2026-09-08
• Website basicsCheck a website before, during, and after launch Publishing is complete only after visitors can use the intended production pages. Separate preparation, deployment, and post-launch checks. 2026-09-08