What Is Web Hosting? A Basic Guide

You’re in the process of setting up your first website and you keep coming across this word, “hosting”. You have a cursory idea as to what it is but don’t really have a true understanding. 

That’s why you’re here. You need to know: what is web hosting? We’re going to answer that question in detail below. 

What Is Web Hosting?

When a website is created, it doesn’t automatically exist online. It has to be put online manually. 

And what is it put on? A server owned by a web host, or, as some might call it, web hosting. 

Web hosting services are provided by a variety of companies, some of which provide a better service than others. You can find cheap web hosting, expensive web hosting, and tons of middling options as well. 

But, in the end, one fact remains: if you’re putting a website online, you need to utilize web hosting services. 

Types of Website Hosting

There are several different types of website hosting. These include the following. 

Shared Hosting

If your website is on the small side, you would best benefit from shared hosting. Shared hosting is hosting in which several websites use the same server. 

The upside is that it’s cheap. The downside is that it can be slow and unreliable. But for small websites, it’s usually good enough. 

Dedicated Hosting

Shared hosting involves putting many different websites on a single server. Dedicated hosting involves giving every website its own, individual server. The latter is the best option for medium-sized and large websites, as they require full servers to keep up with their traffic and unique customization needs. 

The issue with dedicated hosting? It’s expensive. That said, there are cheap dedicated servers out there. 

Managed Hosting

There’s a lot involved in the upkeep of a website. It’s not just about uploading new content. You also have to maintain the technical aspects of the website, and this requires a good deal of time spent fiddling with your hosting servers. 

It’s for this reason that managed hosting exists. This is hosting in which the hosting provider manages the server aspects of the website. It costs extra money but can be exceedingly beneficial for those who don’t have the time to make updates on their own. 

Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting is online hosting that takes advantage of a network of servers. It allows users to draw from these many servers as needed. This makes it extremely scalable, and the best option for websites that start small but plan to grow big. 

This form of hosting is expensive but it’s also of exceedingly high quality. If you’re looking to launch a future world-famous website, this might be the best way to go. 

Seeking Out Similar Info?

Now that you have an answer to the question of “What is web hosting?”, you might be seeking out similar info. If so, our website is the place to be. It covers info on a variety of interesting topics. 

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