Web Hosting

TL;DR: Web hosting is a service that enables individuals and organizations to make their websites accessible via the World Wide Web. It involves storing website files on a server connected to the internet, allowing users to access the website anytime, anywhere.
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Web hosting is an online service that provides the customer with digital space in which they can house their website or web application on the Internet. A web hosting provider allocates space on a server for a website to store its files. These files can include images, videos, CSS, HTML and much more.

As an essential part of online functionality, web hosting allows us to browse and share content online. Without web hosting, we wouldn’t be able to access the content provided by other people around the internet. Every website available today is hosted on a server.

What is web hosting?

The internet as we know it isn’t an ethereal entity, but a gigantic “web” of connected servers, all hosting and sharing various kinds of content. Hosting providers offer specific amounts of space on a server, which can be used to showcase code, images, and other website files.

The amount of space allocated to a website on a server will depend on the kind of hosting you choose for your business. Every hosting server has a specific amount of memory for holding internet files.

Web hosting providers , also known as a “web host” could be an internet service provider, or an organization specifically providing a web hosting service, like Bluehost or GoDaddy. In some cases, it’s possible to build and host personal websites for free. However, business websites can be far more expensive.

How does web hosting work?

Web hosting works by providing users with specific amounts of space on a server, a kind of computer responsible for connecting other web users to a site from anywhere around the globe. The web hosting solution have the connectivity and services required to host websites, and many offer a variety of different hosting options.

For any company planning on developing an online presence, the right web hosting is a must-have. There are hundreds of web hosts available today providing thousands of web hosting services. Some of the most common kinds of web hosting accessible today are:

Shared web hosting: With shared hosting, numerous sites are hosted on the same server.

Reseller hosting: Clients are permitted to become web hosts themselves, using portions of a server provided by a larger company.

Dedicated hosting: The client/user gets absolute control of the server memory but won’t necessarily own the server hardware.

Managed hosting: The web host assures the quality of the service for the client by providing them with an extensive amount of support and guidance.

VPS hosting: Virtual private server hosting is the middle ground between a dedicated and shared server. Each website has its own space on the server, though it’s sharing the wider server itself with others.

Cloud hosting: This hosting solution runs via a network to enable companies to consume computing resources on an “as-a-service” basis.

Colocation: Instead of keeping servers in-house, you can col-locate your equipment by renting space in a colocation centre. Space is rented out in the form of cabinets and racks.

There are also various specialist forms of hosting available, depending on your unique needs. Choosing the right web hosting plan is essential, as it ensures you’ll have the right allocation of resources to keep your site loading reliably and quickly for visitors.

Updated February 17, 2024

Axel Grubba is the founder of Findstack, a B2B software comparison platform, with his background spanning management consulting and venture capital where he invested in software. Recently, Axel has developed a passion for coding and enjoys traveling when he is not building and improving Findstack.