Web hosting is a service that allows organizations and individuals to post a website or web page onto the Internet. A web host, or web hosting service provider, is a business that provides the technologies and services needed for the website or webpage to be viewed on the Internet.
If you're running a website, you're going to need a web host. But what is web hosting, and how does it work? In this guide, we'll break down everything you need to know about web hosting.
Web Hosting Definition
Web hosting is a service that allows organizations and individuals to post a website or web page onto the Internet. A web host, or web hosting service provider, is a business that provides the technologies and services needed for the website or webpage to be viewed on the Internet.
Web hosts, also known as web hosting service providers, are companies that provides the technologies and services required for a website or webpage to be seen on the Internet.
Web hosting companies provide space on a server owned or leased for use by clients, as well as providing Internet connectivity, typically in a data center.
Web hosting companies can also provide data center space and connectivity to the Internet for other servers located in their data center, called colocation.
How Does Web Hosting Work?
Web hosting services work by storing your website files in high-powered computers (web servers) connected to a very fast network.
When someone types in your web address, the Internet connects to the webserver holding your website files and then transfers your website information back to their computer. From there, they can surf and view the pages of your website.
You can think of it like this: Your computer is like your personal house or apartment. The web server is like the land your house is built on. And the Internet is like the street that provides access to your house.
In order for your website to be visible on the Internet, you need to host it with a web hosting service. Once you have found a web host, you will need to set up your website on their server. This process can be done by yourself, or you can pay the web host to do it for you.
If you want to do it yourself, you will need to design your website using either HTML ( HyperText Markup Language) or a Content Management System (CMS). Once your website is designed, you will need to upload your website files onto
Technically speaking, a web server is just a computer connected to the Internet with its own IP address (Internet Protocol address).
However, in practice, when people talk about “web servers”, they usually mean a computer running special software – web server software – that can store files (like HTML pages and images) and make them accessible via the Internet.
Types of Web Hosting
There are different types of web hosting services available, each with its own advantages and disadvantages:
Shared Web Hosting
Shared web hosting is the most popular type of hosting. It is the most affordable and cost-effective option for small businesses and individual website owners. In shared web hosting, your website shares server space with other websites.
This means that you will be sharing resources such as bandwidth, memory, and processing power with other websites on the same server.
The main advantage of shared web hosting is that it is very affordable. The downside is that your website may be affected by the activities of other websites on the same server.
For example, if another website on your shared server gets a lot of traffic, it may slow down your website as well.
Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting
Virtual private server (VPS) hosting is a type of hosting that gives you more control and flexibility over your website. In VPS hosting, your website is stored on a server that is partitioned into multiple “virtual” servers. Each virtual server can run its own operating system and can be rebooted independently.
The main advantage of VPS hosting is that it is more flexible than shared web hosting, as you have more control over your virtual server. The downside is that it is more expensive than shared web hosting.
Dedicated Server Hosting
Dedicated server hosting is a type of web hosting in which you lease an entire physical server for your website. This means that you will have full control over the server, and you will not have to share it with other websites.
The main advantage of dedicated server hosting is that your website will not be affected by the activities of other websites. The downside is that it is more expensive than shared web hosting.
Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting is a type of web hosting that uses a network of servers to store your website files. The advantage of cloud hosting is that it is more scalable and can be easily upgraded as your website grows. The downside is that it can be more expensive than other types of web hosting.
Why Pay for Web Hosting Services?
There are two main reasons why you should get services from hosting companies:
More Reliable
The first reason to pay for web hosting services is to have your website accessible via the Internet.
While you can technically host your website on your own computer, it is not recommended because it is not very reliable.
Your computer may be turned off or rebooted, and if this happens, your website will not be accessible. In addition, your ISP (Internet Service Provider) may not allow you to host a website on your home computer.
Companies and service providers are more capable to handle it.
More Features and Tools
Another reason to pay for web hosting services is to get more features and resources for your website.
For example, most paid web hosting services offer better uptime guarantee, meaning that your website will be accessible most of the time. They also offer higher bandwidth and storage space allowances, meaning that your website can handle more traffic and store more data.
In addition, paid web hosting services usually offer better customer support than free web hosting services.
How to Choose a Web Hosting Service?
There are many factors to consider when choosing a web host for your website:
1) Cost
How much does the web hosting service cost? This is often the most important factor when choosing a web host. It's important that you choose one based on what your budget and needs.
2) Storage space
How much storage space does the web host offer? This is important if you have a lot of files or images on your website. This factor can significantly affect your business website performance.
3) Bandwidth
How much bandwidth do you need? This is important if you expect a lot of traffic to your site. Make sure that the web host can accommodate your website's needs.
4) Uptime
How often is the web host down? This is important as you want your website to be accessible to visitors at all times. If your site is frequently down, it won't be good for your business.
5) Customer support
How good is the web host's customer support? This is important as you will want to be able to contact them if you have any problems with your website and anything related to the hosting services.
When choosing a web hosting service, it is important to compare the features and prices of different providers. You can use a web hosting comparison site like WebHostingGeeks.com to compare the features and prices of different providers.
What to do After Choosing Web Hosting Service Providers?
After you've chosen your web hosting service provider, you will need to set up your website with these steps:
1) Domain Registration
The first thing you need to do is register a domain name. This is the name of your website (e.g., www.example.com). You can register a domain name through a web hosting provider or a domain name registrar such as GoDaddy.com.
2) Set up your website
Once you have registered your domain name, you will need to set up your website. You can do this yourself by creating a website using HTML and CSS, or you can use a content management system (CMS) such as WordPress or Joomla!.
3) Choose a web host
Now that you have registered your domain name and set up your website, you will need to choose a web host. This is the company that will provide web hosting services and space on their server for your website.
4) Upload your website
Once you have chosen a web host, you will need to upload your website. You can do this using an FTP client such as FileZilla or CuteFTP.
5) Promote your website
After you have uploaded your website, you will need to promote it. You can do this by submitting it to search engines such as Google and Bing, and by advertising it on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.
Web Hosting Companies You Should Try
To help you in choosing where to get web hosting services, here are the five best ones with their pros and cons:
| Registrar | Pros | Cons |
| WPX |
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| Siteground |
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| Bluehost |
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| Cloudinary |
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| Hostinger |
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Conclusion
Web hosting is a type of internet service that allows individuals and organizations to make their websites accessible to others on the World Wide Web. There are many different types of web hosting and choosing the right one for your website will depend on your needs and budget.
If you're just starting out, we recommend that you choose shared web hosting. This is the most affordable option, and it's suitable for small websites. Once your website starts to grow, you can upgrade to a more expensive option such as cloud hosting or dedicated server hosting.
