Despite the amount of time people spend on the Internet — an average of 6 hours and 42 minutes per day, according to some reports — the behind-the-scenes actions that keep websites running remain mysterious to many.
However, not understanding the inner workings of the Internet doesn’t mean you can’t create the website of your dreams, especially if you are a small business owner. That’s why we created this guide answering one of the fundamental questions of website building — what is web hosting?
Web Hosting 101
In the most basic terms, web hosting is the service that enables an individual or organization to publish a website on the Internet. While we may think of websites as something that only exist digitally, the truth is, physical resources are also needed to power Internet content, mainly in the form of servers.
A server is a powerful computer that holds all the files that comprise your website; it is the physical space where your website “lives.” Websites are essentially collections of files, including text, images, and other elements. Therefore, you can think of a server as the filing cabinet where those files live. When someone visits your website, they are connected to the server where they can access those files, aka your website.
Your website is only useful if it’s accessible to your customers. Most people have heard of servers “crashing,” which can happen for several reasons. A good web hosting service provider makes sure their servers are operational as close to 100 percent of the time as possible. This is referred to as uptime and is the amount of time that a server is online.
While it is possible to purchase and run your own server to host your website, this is likely far more expensive and complicated than necessary. Most small business’ needs can be met by paying a company, known as a web hosting service provider, to rent space on servers that they own, house, and maintain.
Another reason to use a web hosting service is security. Unfortunately, website hacks are common, and can have devastating effects. Reputable web hosting service providers have multiple layers of security in place to protect your website from hackers, cybercriminals, and other threats.
Types of Web Hosting
Different websites have different needs, so a variety of web hosting services exist. You may already be familiar with some of them — shared, dedicated, VPS, cloud, and e-commerce, to name the most popular. The type that’s best for your business will depend on a variety of things, including the type of business, the amount of website traffic, and how many visual assets are on your site.
What is managed web hosting?
When researching web hosting, another option you may encounter is managed hosting. This is not its own type of hosting, but rather a service that web hosting service providers offer to customers, primarily those using dedicated or VPS hosting. With managed hosting, the hosting service provider will handle the set-up, administration, and support of the server, whereas with unmanaged hosting, this is the customer’s responsibility.
8 Essential Web Hosting Features
There are a few key features to consider when shopping for web hosting services:
1. Domain name registration
Every website needs its own unique domain name. While you can register your domain name separately from your hosting plan, many hosting service providers offer domain name registration (for one or multiple sites) as part of their hosting packages. Because there are additional fees associated with registering a domain name, having it included in your hosting package can save you money.
