| This is a service that provides online access to | | | | What is the difference? |
| your website. For 24 hours a day, seven days a | | | | Perhaps the easiest way to explain the |
| week, their computers are connected to the | | | | differences is with an analogy. Again the biggest |
| Internet. They use special computers called | | | | difference is the amount of space each type of |
| servers which store your website and all the files | | | | hosting 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 to | | | | Shared hosting would be like renting an apartment. |
| people who are online. When someone types your | | | | Your website has a private space but is sharing |
| web address into the address bar of their | | | | that 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 use | | | | of 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 is | | | | buying an office building. They are designed for big |
| what allows people to have access to your | | | | companies. These provide complete or almost |
| website. There are several different types of | | | | complete access to a building, which costs more. |
| hosting that provide different types of access to | | | | Some require your own online security and server |
| a server. You can think of a server as providing a | | | | maintenance. 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 web | | | | What type should I get? |
| hosting was more popular years ago, these hosts | | | | Most individuals and small companies need a |
| place advertisements on your website to pay for | | | | shared server. This provides you with your own |
| their services. They also are very limited. Shared | | | | space without the high costs. It also means you |
| hosting is common for individuals and small | | | | have access online without having the upkeep |
| businesses. Your website is on a server with | | | | that higher end servers have. You also do not |
| many other sites, hundreds or even thousands of | | | | have to worry about your visitors getting |
| sites. There are additional services but they cost | | | | distracted by the ads free web hosts put on your |
| quite a bit more, and require more technical skills. | | | | website. |