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Hosting
Web hosting provides the server resources that make a website or online application available. A provider may also offer email, Moodle or other services. Availability, security measures and support depend on the plan.
Synonyms: web hosting, shared hosting, dedicated hosting, virtual private server, web space
Examples for small businesses
- A marketing agency hosts its clients’ websites on a plan that it manages through Plesk.
- An online shop uses a managed VPS to handle busy sales campaigns.
- A startup moves to a dedicated server when it needs more control over configuration and performance.
Common mistakes
- Choosing solely on price without comparing support or uptime.
- Relying on the hosting provider’s backups without checking how to restore them or keeping a separate copy.
- Adding plugins or themes without checking the hosting plan’s resource limits.
FAQ
How does shared hosting differ from a VPS?
Shared hosting puts several sites on the same server resources. A VPS gives you an isolated environment with an allocation of resources. Busy sites can affect each other on a poorly managed shared server.
Does hosting include email?
Some plans do. For business email, compare their limits and support with services such as Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace.
Does hosting include a domain name?
Some plans include domain registration. Hosting and domain registration are separate services and can be bought independently.