What is Web Hosting and What Type of Web Host Service Do I Need?

This is a service that provides online access toWhat is the difference?
your website. For 24 hours a day, seven days aPerhaps the easiest way to explain the
week, their computers are connected to thedifferences is with an analogy. Again the biggest
Internet. They use special computers calleddifference is the amount of space each type of
servers which store your website and all the fileshosting provides to the customers. Free hosting
and images that are part of your website.would be like sitting on park bench, they place ads
What does web hosting do?on the park bench.
Your web host keeps your website available toShared hosting would be like renting an apartment.
people who are online. When someone types yourYour website has a private space but is sharing
web address into the address bar of theirthat building with others. This means your website
browser and hits enter, your website appears.is independent of the others and you have the
When they hit enter they are making a request"apartment manager" take care of maintenance
for your website. The browser is what people useof your building. You have to maintain your actual
to look at things online.apartment.
What do they provide?Many other types of hosting are like renting or
They provide access to a server. The server isbuying an office building. They are designed for big
what allows people to have access to yourcompanies. These provide complete or almost
website. There are several different types ofcomplete access to a building, which costs more.
hosting that provide different types of access toSome require your own online security and server
a server. You can think of a server as providing amaintenance. Some allow owners to rent out
place with an address for your website.space. One type of service requires the buyer
What types of web hosting is available?actually visit the server and maintain it physically.
There are quite a few different types. Free webWhat type should I get?
hosting was more popular years ago, these hostsMost individuals and small companies need a
place advertisements on your website to pay forshared server. This provides you with your own
their services. They also are very limited. Sharedspace without the high costs. It also means you
hosting is common for individuals and smallhave access online without having the upkeep
businesses. Your website is on a server withthat higher end servers have. You also do not
many other sites, hundreds or even thousands ofhave to worry about your visitors getting
sites. There are additional services but they costdistracted by the ads free web hosts put on your
quite a bit more, and require more technical skills.website.