Inspired by skeetley, I am posting here to ask people to post the great analogies they have for internet stuff. I always use the following for explain hosting vs. an ISP vs. a server.
A phone number is your domain name except you can actually buy it. That phone number does you no good unless you have a phone service. The phone service is the ISP for the people hosting your site. In order make the phone service and/or the number good, you need a phone...or a server. The big difference is usually the phone is kept at your web host who has a "phone service" going to them. Then there is collocation where it is your phone at their "house" on their service.
skeetley's two analogies were
1. DNS propagation
It's kinda like when you change your phone number. The new phone book comes out, but the people have to read the new number to know it changed. Some people have your number memorized or on speed dial and it takes them a bit to see the change.
and
2. Databases (MySQL)
A way to think of a databse is like a big address book you likely have. Each person would be a record in your database. You could search your database by people named eveandodd and then it would return all the info about people named eveandodd. Or you could search for all people living on Elm Street. And it would return all the info for people living on Elm Street. You could search for all the eveandodd and Elm Streets and get that list. You can search any record for and field or fields you want and order in anyway you want. Clear as mud?
So, do you have any good one on other topics or better ones on the three above?
P.S
skeetley, i hope you aren't upset i quoted you.
