What is Hosting - A brief description

What is meant by hosting?

Hosting, in simple words, is a service through which storage and computing resources are providing to an individual or organization for the accommodation and maintenance of one or more websites and related services. While hosting doesn't need to be IP-based, the vast majority of instances are web-based services that allow a website or web service to be globally accessible from the Internet. Hosting is also known as Web hosting or website hosting.

As a highly important service, hosting has facilitated the development and growth of the Internet. Hosting is primarily provided by a hosting service provider that builds a specialized backend computing infrastructure. In turn, the website owner/developer utilizes the infrastructure to host its website via uploaded source code, where each website is distinguishable by its unique domain name and logically allocated Webspace and storage. After the domain name is specified in a Web browser, a website is accessed by the Internet.

With the development of technology and delivery models, hosting has evolved into a variety of formats, including shared hosting, dedicated hosting and cloud hosting. Besides websites, hosting also may include data/storage hosting, application/software hosting and IT services hosting. 

What is Web hosting?

Web hosting (in layman’s terms) is the service of providing storage space for a website or application on a server on the internet. Once your website is made available on the internet, it can be accessed by other computers connected to the internet.

A web host provides space on its server so that other computers around the world can access your website by means of a network or modem. There are literally thousands of web hosting services available today, ranging from free services with limited options to expensive, specialized business web hosting services. 

What exactly is a server? 
A server is a computer that connects other web users to your site from anywhere in the world. As the name indicates, web hosting service providers have the servers, connectivity, and associated services to host websites. In short, Websites are hosted or stored, on special computers called servers. By offering a variety of hosting plans, they cover the spectrum of hosting needs, from small blogs and large organizations.

Types of Web Hosting:

In the world of web hosting, there are many options that will all get your site on the web. However, each of them provides directly to the website owner's needs - whether those needs are big or small. While they all act as a storage place for your website, where they differ in aspect of the amount of storage capacity, control, technical knowledge requirement, server speed, and reliability.  These are the six types of web hosting you will most often come across: 

1.Shared hosting: It is similar to renting a workstation in a busy, noisy, open-plan office or co-working space. You have all the modern conveniences: a desk, internet connection and some stationary and you share the space with other co-workers including the kitchen, printer, and restroom. You can’t do any makeovers to space such as installing whiteboards etc. This is a popular option for launching small websites and not appropriate for large-scale commercial projects.

In most cases, beginners will find shared  VPS the simplest method of hosting their website; so regardless of whether you’re a small business owner, a community group, or a stay-at-home mom with a desire to blog, your site will be accessible on the web. Shared hosting plans often come with many helpful tools such as website builders, WordPress hosting, and the ability to email clients.

2. VPS Hosting: A virtual private server (VPS) is a nice step up from shared hosting. A medium-sized business will benefit from renting an office within a business park. With a VPS, users are isolated from each other. You have neighbors, but you are less dependant on them, and you can carry out any makeovers (customizations) as you like and organize your workstation on your own.

VPS hosting is used by website owners who want dedicated hosting but don’t have the technical knowledge needed. VPS hosting offers the cost benefits of shared hosting with the control of dedicated hosting. A great choice for advanced users and those that want specific software and package installations.

3.  Dedicated Server Hosting: Dedicated hosting gives website owners the most control over the server that their website is stored on. That’s because the server is exclusively rented by you and your website is the only one stored on it. This means that you have full root and admin access so that you can control everything from security to the operating system that you run.

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. 

4. Cloud hosting: Cloud hosting is the current buzzword of the technology industry. In regards to web hosting, it means many computers working together, running applications using combined computing resources. It’s a hosting solution that works via a network and enables companies to consume computing resources like a utility.

This allows users to operate as many resources as they need without having to build and maintain 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 malfunction.

Cloud-based hosting is scalable, meaning your site can grow over time, using as many resources as it requires and while the website owner only pays for what they need.

5. Managed hosting: Most hosting packages you will find online are likely to be managed. Hosting companies provide technical services such as hardware and software setup and configuration, maintenance, hardware replacement, technical support, patching, updating, and monitoring. With managed hosting, the provider looks after the day-to-day management of the hardware, operating systems, and standardized applications.

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 plan caters to the specifications of different groups and realizing what your needs on a website are will help you ensure that you’re choosing the right plan for you and your business. 

6. Colocation: Instead of keeping servers in-house or at a private datacentre, you may choose to ”‘co-locate” your equipment by renting space in a colocation center. The center will provide the power, bandwidth, IP address and cooling systems that your server requires. Space is rented out in racks and cabinets. Colocation gives access to higher levels of bandwidth than a normal office server room at a much cheaper cost. You’re left to your own devices (literally) and will be expected to take care of everything including the hardware, software, and services.

Except these, there are two more types of web hosting, have a look here:

1. WordPress Hosting: If you have a WordPress blog or website, it is suggested that you purchase a WordPress hosting package as it is specifically optimized to cater to your WordPress website.

2. Reseller Hosting: If you want to get into the hosting business, purchasing Reseller Hosting enables you to rent out or re-sell the same hosting services provided by the parent hosting company. With Reseller Hosting, you can also upsell every other web service offered by the parent web host.

How does web hosting work?

Web hosts are companies that rent out their services and technologies to host websites on the internet. Once the hosting company hosts your website, users can access it by typing in your web address (domain name) in their web browser. When they do this, their computer connects to the server your website is hosted on. The server, in turn, serves (sends the files you have stored on the storage to display) the website to your web visitor in their web browser.

How to choose the right web hosting package?

There are several web hosting options available. To know which one would be right for your business, ask yourself the following questions:
What kind of website do you plan to host online- a blog, an e-commerce portal, a news website, etc as this will determine how much web traffic you expect and how robust the infrastructure required to host your website, should be.

1. What are the goals of your website? 
2. How fast do you see yourself expanding online business?
3. How much hand-holding do you need?

Your answers will determine how much you need of the following:
1. Storage space
2. Bandwidth
3. Control–Is it important that you have root control of your server?
4. Cost–How much are you either willing to spend or need to spend?

How to know which web hosting provider to partner with?

Investigate their performance or claims in the following area:
1. Uptime: Do they guarantee at least a 99.99% uptime? Where are their servers located?
2. Years in the industry: One way to determine their reliability.
3. Customers: How many customers do they serve? In what locations do they have a presence?
4. Online reviews and testimonials: These should give you a more factual idea of the company’s reputation.
5. Support: Does the company offers 24X7 support with trained personnel to assist you?
6. Related products: Select a web hosting company that offers you other related web service products such as security, email and backup services. Getting it all in one place could reduce the time coordinating with different providers
7. Security considerations
8. Backup services

9. Mobile Access: Can you access your control panel from a device on the go?


I hope I’ve given you a brief description of what web hosting is and how it works, and how to choose the best hosting provider.