What is web hosting and why does it matter?

Web hosting is one of the first decisions you’ll make when building a site. This guide explains what it does, the options available and what to look for in a provider.

What is web hosting?

A hosting plan provides space and computing resources on a server for your site’s files, images and data.

When someone visits your domain, their browser requests the page from the server. The server sends back the files and data needed to display it.

Can you host your own website?

Yes. You need to set up hardware or a virtual server, configure the software and take responsibility for security, updates and availability.

A hosting provider can manage some or all of that work, depending on the plan you choose.

Types of web hosting

Shared hosting

Shared hosting puts several websites on the same server. The sites share server resources. It is an affordable option for small sites with standard requirements. A spike in demand from another site can affect performance if resources are not well managed.

Virtual private server (VPS)

A VPS shares the underlying physical server, but gives your site its own isolated virtual environment. It comes with an allocation of resources, which can improve consistency and control. It also offers more configuration options than shared hosting.

Cloud hosting

In cloud hosting , resources are drawn from a network of servers. Capacity can often be increased as needed. Automatic failover depends on how the service is configured and what the provider offers.

Dedicated server hosting

You rent a physical server for your own use. This gives you control over its configuration and resources, but costs more and may require specialist administration. It can suit demanding applications or high-traffic sites.

What should you look for in a host?

Compare providers on the features that matter to your site:

• Performance Check how the plan handles the site’s typical workload and peaks in traffic.
• Security Look for TLS certificates, backups and appropriate protection against malware and denial-of-service attacks. Check which measures are included.
• Availability Look at the uptime commitment, monitoring and what happens during an outage.
• Technical support Check support hours, contact channels and expected response times.
• Scalability Ask how you can add capacity if traffic or storage needs increase.
• Value for money Compare what is included and the charges for services you are likely to need.

Conclusion

Hosting is the infrastructure that keeps your site available. Choose it based on your workload, security needs and how much support you want.