What is Hosting? Explained for Beginners by Digimagg

What is Hosting?

Hosting, broadly speaking, refers to a service that offers storage and computing resources to individuals or organizations, enabling them to house and upkeep one or multiple websites along with associated services. Although hosting isn't necessarily reliant on IP, the predominant instances involve web-based services facilitating global accessibility of a website or web service on the Internet.Web hosting, alternatively referred to as hosting or website hosting, is another term for the same service.

Different Types of  Hosting?

Various hosting types are available to meet diverse user requirements. For instance, a novice looking to create a small website would find shared hosting plans most suitable, whereas an owner of an online store, requiring more resources, might opt for VPS or cloud hosting.To address the diverse requirements of users, hosting providers present a variety of hosting types, encompassing:

• Shared Hosting
• Virtual Private Server (VPS)
• Cloud Hosting
• Dedicated Hosting
• Reseller/White Label Hosting 

How Does Hosting Work?

Being a crucial service, hosting has played a pivotal role in the advancement and expansion of the Internet. Hosting services are predominantly offered by specialized providers that construct a dedicated computing infrastructure. Subsequently, website owners or developers make use of this infrastructure to host their websites by uploading source code. Each website is identifiable by its distinct domain name and logically assigned web space and storage. Upon specifying the domain name in a web browser, access to the website is granted on the Internet.With technological advancements and varied delivery models, hosting has diversified into several formats, such as shared hosting, dedicated hosting, and cloud hosting. Beyond websites, hosting encompasses data/storage hosting, application/software hosting, and IT services hosting. The boundaries are further blurred with the emergence of cloud computing and virtualization, introducing a higher level of sophistication and customization.

Shared Hosting 

The most economical hosting option, shared hosting, involves your website sharing processing power, RAM, and storage space with other websites on the same server. Although it is the most basic form of hosting, it is also the least robust. Suited for personal websites, blogs, or small businesses with minimal traffic, it provides limited customization compared to alternative choices and may encounter slower loading times when other websites on the same server experience high traffic. Nonetheless, it is beginner-friendly as it requires no coding.

Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting 

In essence, VPS hosting provides several virtual compartments within a single physical server, each functioning as an autonomous server. Moreover, each VPS possesses dedicated resources, including processing power, RAM, and storage space.In contrast to shared hosting, where resources are distributed among various websites, a VPS affords greater control. For instance, users can install their preferred operating system software and adjust settings without impacting other websites on the server.Furthermore, this hosting type is better suited for medium-sized websites and small online stores, offering ample resources and easy scalability.

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting is a form of web hosting that depends on a network of interconnected servers in the cloud rather than a singular physical server. One benefit of cloud hosting lies in its scalability, allowing users to effortlessly modify resources like storage and processing power to align with their website's requirements. Another advantage is resilience, wherein if one server encounters an issue, the website seamlessly transitions to another server, minimizing the risk of prolonged downtime.

Dedicated Hosting

Tailored for websites with substantial traffic, dedicated hosting offers exclusive access to an entire physical server. One advantage is the ability to achieve complete customization and enhanced security. Dedicated hosting is particularly suitable for resource-intensive applications like video editing. However, it comes with the drawback of being the priciest web hosting option and necessitates in-house technical expertise for server management.

Reseller/White Label Hosting

Reseller hosting, also known as white-label hosting, operates similarly to shared hosting. In this arrangement, you purchase hosting services from a larger and more seasoned web hosting company at wholesale rates. Afterward, you can package and resell these resources for a profit to individuals seeking to create a website.

This setup allows you to present yourself as a web host, as you have the ability to brand the service with your own identity, without any reference to the original service provider.

How to Pick a Web Host 

Selecting the most suitable web hosting solution for your needs hinges entirely on your individual requirements. Nevertheless, here are key considerations to factor in when making your choice:

1.  Resources: Envision the kind of website you plan to create, taking into account the number of pages, images, videos, and other elements. Ensure that the chosen web host provides adequate server resources such as storage space, bandwidth, RAM, and more.
2. Uptime: Consistent downtime results in a poor user experience and can negatively impact search engine rankings. While achieving 100% uptime is challenging, opt for a web host that guarantees at least 99.9% uptime.
3. Performance: Research indicates that 40% of users lose interest if a page takes more than 3 seconds to load. Check user reviews to confirm that the web host doesn't face issues with server performance.
4.  Scalability: Evaluate how easily you can adjust your hosting package to accommodate changing needs. The process should be straightforward, allowing for seamless upgrades or downgrades as your business evolves.
5. Security: Prioritize web hosts with robust security measures, including regular automated backups, firewalls, SSL certificates, and other security features.
6. Customer Support: Given the potential for technical issues, prioritize web hosts offering knowledgeable 24/7 customer support through various channels such as email, live chat, and phone. User reviews can provide insights into the quality of customer support.
7. Pricing: Compare plans and pricing across different hosts, considering additional features like a custom domain name or SSL, which may be included for free by some providers but may incur additional charges with others.

How does Web Hosting Differ from a Domain Name?

Both web hosting and domain names are essential components in establishing your online presence, yet they serve separate purposes. Web hosting can be likened to storage for your website's files, while the domain name is the address users enter into their browser, such as Techopedia.com.In analogy, web hosting is comparable to the contents within a shop, while the domain name is akin to the address guiding you to the location of the shop.

The Bottom Line

When creating a website, web hosting plays a vital role in the overall process. Unless you intend to operate the site on your personal computer, requiring it to be consistently operational 24/7, opting for a web hosting service is the recommended choice. Depending on your website's size, you can select the appropriate hosting type, allowing you to swiftly establish a functional website within minutes.