Web hosting is an online assistance for people who wish to publish their website or web application on the Internet. When you sign up for a hosting plan, you book some space on a physical server from where you can collect data and files essential for your website. When a hosting provider labels space on a web server for a website for storing the data, they are hosting a website. Web hosting makes the files that comprise a website (code, images, etc.) available to scrutinize online. Every website you’ve ever visited is hosted on a server. The amount of space allocated on a server to a website depends on the type of hosting. The main types of hosting are shared, dedicated, VPS and reseller. They are differentiated by the kind of technology used for the server, the level of management offered, and the extra services.
A server is a physical computer that runs without any interruption so that your website is available all the time for anyone who wants to see it. Your web host is responsible for keeping that server up and running, protecting it from malicious attacks, and transferring your content — such as files, text, images, etc. — from the server to the browser. When you are thinking of beginning a fresh website, you must search for a web hosting provider that will supply you with that server space. Your web host stores all your files, assets, and databases on the server. Whenever someone types your domain name into their browser’s address bar, your host transfers all the needed documents to serve that particular request.
Thus, it would be best if you chose a hosting plan that best fits your needs. In fact, it works similarly to housing rentals — you have to pay the rent regularly to keep the server running continuously. To reduce risks, each Hosting plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can see if their service really meets your expectations. When your website grows in traffic, and you need more server space, you can move on to more advanced plans without any delay.
In fact, you don’t even need any programming knowledge to perform regular site management tasks. For instance, you can upload HTML and other files to the server, install content management systems such as WordPress or Drupal, access your database, and create backups for your site with ease.
Even though the cPanel hosting platform is used by most web-hosting providers, it is a powerful tool. It can be tough for beginners who just want to quickly get a site up. Hence, a custom control panel is also available for them — CPanel.
Besides providing server space for your website, Hosting providers also offer other services related to website management, such as:
- SSL certificates
- Email hosting and page builders
- Developer tools
- 24/7 customer support service
- Automated website backups
- One-click software installs for WordPress or Drupal and much more.
In this article, we’re going to explain web hosting in detail. So, let’s dive right in.
What Are The Various Types Of Web Hosting
While all types of web hostings act as a storage place for your website, they differ in the amount of storage capacity, control, technical knowledge need, server speed, and reliability. There are five types of web hosting you will most often come across:
- Shared hosting
Shared hosting is perfect for entry-level website hosting. This is where your website will be stored on the same server as many other websites. All domains share the same server resources with a shared hosting plan, such as RAM (Random Access Memory) and CPU (Central Processing Unit). Yet, because all resources are shared, the cost of shared hosting plans is relatively low, making them an excellent option for website owners in their beginning stages.
- Virtual private server (VPS) hosting
A VPS hosting plan is the ultimate middle ground between a shared server and a dedicated server. It is ideal for website owners that want more control but don’t necessarily need a dedicated server.
VPS hosting is unique, this is because each website is hosted within its own space on the server, though it still shares a physical server with other users. At the same time, VPS hosting provides website owners with more customization and storage space. They’re still not able to handle incredibly high traffic levels or spikes in usage, meaning that the site performance can still be affected by other sites on the server.
Typically, VPS hosting is used by website owners who want dedicated hosting but don’t have the technical knowledge needed. VPS hosting gives the cost benefits of shared hosting with the control of dedicated hosting. An excellent choice for advanced users and those that want specific software and package installations.
- Dedicated server hosting
Dedicated hosting gives website owners more control over the server on which their website is stored. That’s because you exclusively rent the server, and your website is the only one stored on it. This means that you have entire root and admin access, so you can control everything from security to the operating system that you run. However, all that control comes with a price.
Dedicated servers cost is one of the most expensive web hosting options. Typically, they are used by website owners with high levels of website traffic and those who are in need of complete control of their servers. In addition, a high level of technical expertise is required for the installation and ongoing management of the server.
- Cloud hosting
Cloud hosting is the current buzzword of the technology industry. Regarding web hosting, it means many computers are working together. Running applications using combined computing resources. It’s a hosting solution that works via a network and enables companies to consume the computing resource like a utility. This allows users to employ as many resources as they need without building and maintaining their own computing infrastructure. The resources that are being used are spread across several servers, reducing the chance of any downtime due to a server flaw.
Cloud-based hosting is scalable, which means your site can grow over time, using as many resources as it requires – while the website owner only pays for what they need.
- Managed hosting
Most hosting packages you will find online are likely to be managed. Hosting companies provide technical services such as software and hardware configuration and setup, technical support, patching, monitoring, updating, and hardware replacement. With managed hosting, the provider looks after the day-to-day management of the operating systems, standardized applications, and hardware.
Although there are many different options to choose from when it comes to web hosting, it all comes down to choosing a plan that fits your needs. Each program caters to the specifications of different groups, and realizing your needs in a website will help you ensure that you’re choosing the right plan for you and your business.
What’s The Difference Between Hosting And Domain?
Do you want to know the difference between domain and hosting? Wondering why these two often come together? Most beginners have these thoughts, while some don’t even know that they’re different things. That’s mainly because domain names and web hosting are required together to set up a website. However, they’re not one thing. A domain name is your website’s address on the Internet using which people can access your website. It is something that internet users type in the browser’s URL bar to visit your site. Domain names have mainly two parts separated by a dot. The first part is your brand name which can have any combination of letters and numbers, like MonsterInsights, whereas the second part is a domain extension like .com, .org, .net, .com, etc.
Each domain is a unique web address, and this means that there can be only one monsterinsights.com in the world. Domain names and web hosting are two different things; however, they’re closely connected. It would be best if you had both a domain name and a web hosting account to create a website, and this means that you can’t build a website without any one of them. You can choose a domain name and register it with a domain registrar company to get started. With most domain companies, you can write a domain name for a minimum period of 1 year. It would be best if you renewed your domain before expiring to continue using it.
Next, you can buy a hosting plan and link it with your domain name. After that, you can install a website software (for example, WordPress), install tools and plugins, and add content to your website.
What Are The Best Web Hosting Services?
There are many web hosting services available today, and these four are some of the best you can find when it comes to pricing, features, and customization.
- Namecheap
This Namecheap is famous for its affordable pricing and comprehensive services, Namecheap is a widely used web hosting option. Its entry-level services are incredibly affordable, and pricing is dynamic as compared to other services, particularly for domain registration and other incidentals.
Namecheap supports almost all of the hosting formats outlined above along with some others, including reseller hosting. It also features many optional add-ons, such as security upgrades, additional app-based services, and even business support. Combined with affordable pricing and an ongoing slate of promotional offers, Namecheap is a great, flexible option for many users.
- DreamHost
DreamHost is another widely used hosting service. which provides varied pricing tiers and a strong foundation of primary benefits you can easily upgrade. Like Namecheap, it’s an excellent option for growth. This is because they have plenty of room to build and expand functionality as the need arises.
DreamHost also offers reliable cloud hosting plans with options for scaling as well as good developer support. There are free migration options for WordPress users, too, which is perfect if you’re looking to change hosts, and discounts for non-profit users. Plus, they have a 97-day money-back guarantee, so there’s nothing to lose.
- HostGator
Combining a solid range of budget plans and great pro-support, HostGator offers fewer pricing options but still keeps the bar high for service. They provide an integrated web-builder program that can help users to create and customize their website with a simple interface and the convenience of mobile support.
HostGator offers a particularly competitive starting rate on dedicated hosting, but they also provide a full range of options, including shared, VPS, cloud, and more. Though they can’t match DreamHost’s longer money-back guarantee period, they still offer a respectable 45-day period to try things out and back out with no commitments.
- Hostwinds
Hostwinds is a popular pick because of its versatile shared hosting plans with unlimited bandwidth. You can start out with just one domain and pay close to the typical price for a monthly plan (only a few dollars to start), but upgrading to unlimited domains adds only a fraction more to your costs. That’s ideal if you manage many websites and don’t want to hassle with the technical side of things.
You can also register at least one domain for free with any plan as there are some of the free coding bootcamps from where you can get more knowledge about this field. Besides, a robust shared hosting system, Hostwinds offers other conventional options like VPS, cloud, dedicated hosting, and even reseller hosting.
The Final Thought :
As we all know, there are many hosting options to be considered for. If your eyes begin to glaze over while going throw the lists of factors and checking the plans and their price, then switch the gears and spend more time with visitors’ reviews. It will be super helpful before signing up. Yet, once you get an excellent knowledge of web hosting, go to the format section to be look over most appealing with dedicated, shared, or otherwise. It also helps in making a small checklist of crucial factors by which you can quickly scan the whole heavy plan confession.
But suppose you want to start an excellent starting place today. In that case, there is some information mentioned in the above article. You can get the proper knowledge with the various hosting packages provided by DreamHost and Namecheap as our top picks.
Also, Read Some Fascinating Information About Everything You Need To Know About The Front End And Back End Development.