If you’re researching ‘what is web hosting’ you’re probably trying to understand how to start building your website. Web hosting is a must-have when it comes to getting your website live. We've put together this article to help you understand what web hosting is, why you need it and how hosting providers like us, can help you get up and running.
What is web hosting?
Web hosting is an online service that allows you to publish your website files onto the internet. So, anyone who has access to the internet has access to your website. In practice, it usually refers to the service you get from a web hosting provider like webteam.ro .
While you can theoretically host an actual server for your website at home, relying on a web hosting service provider offers lots of benefits.
How does web hosting work?
In summary, companies like us rent out services and technologies to host your websites on the internet. Once you’ve chosen your domain name and signed up to a hosting plan, then your website is accessible on the internet.
When you use web hosting services, your web host is responsible for making sure your server is up and running. Not only that, but it is also a hosts job to prevent any security breaches and store all your files, assets and databases onto the server.
As mentioned earlier, web hosting is offered by web hosts that rent out their computing servers. These companies also provide the software, services, and connectivity needed for a website to go live.
A server is a computer that stores and makes your web files available on the world wide web.
Although it’s possible to use any computer connected to the internet as a server, the configuration process can be complicated for most users. That’s why many website owners and businesses prefer to use a web host's server space instead of having an in-house dedicated server.
Just purchasing website hosting is not enough to make your site accessible to visitors, however. For people to find your website, you’ll need to acquire a domain name.
Domain hosting
Domain hosting is a service that hosts and manages domain names. It’s provided by domain hosts, also known as domain name registrars.
A domain name itself is the address of your website. Users type a website’s domain name in the address bar of their web browser to visit that site.
A domain host uses domain name system (DNS) records to connect your domain with your site’s internet protocol (IP) address – a unique address assigned to a physical server, which usually looks like this: 168.221.236.204.
IP addresses help computers identify each other online, but it’s challenging for humans to remember and use these numbers to access a website. Thanks to DNS, people can load a site on their browser without knowing its associated IP address.
Aside from acting as a website address, a domain name can also be a tool to support a site’s branding – it’s the first element that people see when visiting a website. Thus, it’s crucial to spend some time picking a domain name that suits your project or business.
Here are a few tips for choosing the right domain name for a website:
• Pick a short name that is easy to remember
• Ensure a domain is easy to spell and pronounce
• Stick with a popular top-level domain (TLD) like .com
• Refrain from using numbers and hyphens
• Utilize domain name generators to get more domain name ideas
Why is web hosting important?
Web hosting companies are responsible for maintaining and keeping their servers running 24/7, ensuring great performance for the websites they host. For online business owners, having a site with outstanding uptime can help maximize sales and improve user experience.
Additionally, using a web hosting service can improve a site’s search engine optimization (SEO). The web host you choose can affect your site speed, one of the critical factors when search engines like Google rank web pages.
Purchasing a web hosting plan is also more efficient than having an in-house dedicated server – website owners won’t need to spend time maintaining physical hardware or spend money to hire a developer.
Many web hosting providers also offer an intuitive control panel. This tool lets website owners easily control their site and hosting service, manage domain names, install applications, and upload website files.
VPS Hosting
Virtual private server (VPS) hosting is a type of web hosting service that hosts several accounts on a single server but provides dedicated resources for each of the users. With a VPS, website owners can deploy their own operating system (OS) and software. This is because VPS hosting service providers use a hypervisor to install a virtual layer on top of their server’s OS, splitting the server into multiple partitions. There are two types of VPS hosting – unmanaged and managed.
Using an unmanaged VPS means you’re responsible for configuring and maintaining the server yourself. You also need to perform various tasks such as monitoring security threats, installing and upgrading software, and backing up services.
For instance, if you want to build a WordPress website, you also need to install server-side technologies like Apache or LiteSpeed.
Since using unmanaged VPS requires users to run and maintain a server themselves, it’s a good choice for web developers or website owners with a technical background.
As for those with no technical knowledge, a managed VPS plan will be more beneficial – the web host will be the one who maintains and keeps the virtual server running.
However, managed VPS plans usually cost higher than unmanaged VPS solutions.
Regardless of the VPS hosting type, consider this service if you want a more reliable service than shared web hosting.
With VPS hosting, website performance won’t be affected by the activities of others on the same server. Since each account will have its own server space and storage allocated, users won’t compete for computing power.
These are other reasons why you should consider using a VPS:
Root access – users will have access to their root environment, meaning they can modify the server and install any software that suits their hosting needs.
Highly scalable – it’s easy to scale a VPS web hosting plan up and down without interfering with the functioning of the server.
Secure – website owners have more control in securing their server, such as adding additional security tools and putting up firewalls. Using a VPS also minimizes the risk of a site being impacted by hacking attempts intended for another user on the same server.
Web hosting is a must for any website
Anyone who wants to build a website needs web hosting to store their website's files and make them accessible for visitors worldwide. There are different types of hosting to choose from, and the right option for your project relies on your budget and preferences.
Here’s a quick recap of the three common types of web hosting:
Shared hosting – it’s easy to manage and has cost-effective plans, making it an excellent choice for beginner and personal websites.
VPS hosting – offers dedicated resources for each user. It’s an excellent option for small to medium-sized businesses that have outgrown the resources of a shared hosting plan.
Since there are so many web hosting service providers out there, make sure to look for a hosting company that comes with fast servers, an uptime guarantee, security tools, a variety of add-ons, 24/7 support, and reasonable prices.
Top comments (1)
The details provided on the blog are impeccable, but there is another hosting category known as managed cloud hosting. This form of hosting is relatively expensive and is used for high-traffic websites. Managed hosting is fast, productive, and simplifies site management.