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Web Hosting

/web hoh-sting/noun

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In brief · quick answer

Web hosting is a service that stores your website's files on a server and makes them accessible on the internet. Without hosting, your site has no home on the web.

§ 1 Definition

Web hosting is the service that stores your website's files (HTML, CSS, images, databases) on a server connected to the internet and delivers them to visitors when they type your domain. Every site on the web runs on some form of hosting. The type you choose determines your site's speed, reliability, security, and how much control you have over the server environment. Hosting providers manage the physical hardware, network connectivity, and uptime so you can focus on your site content.

§ 2 How Web Hosting Works

When someone visits your domain, their browser sends a request that travels through DNS to find the server where your site's files live. That server processes the request and sends back the files to render the page. The hosting provider is responsible for keeping that server running, secure, and connected to the internet at all times. Without hosting, a domain name points to nothing.

§ 3 Types of Web Hosting

Hosting comes in several tiers with different tradeoffs. Shared Hosting places multiple sites on one server, making it cheap but prone to performance issues when neighbors spike traffic. VPS (Virtual Private Server) partitions a server into isolated virtual machines, giving you dedicated resources at a reasonable price. Cloud Hosting spreads your site across a network of servers that scale on demand. Managed Hosting wraps hosting with maintenance, updates, and support so you don't touch the server. The right choice depends on your traffic, budget, and technical comfort level.

§ 4 Key Factors in Choosing Hosting

Look at uptime guarantees (aim for 99.9% or higher), page load speed, customer support quality, security features (SSL certificates, firewalls, backups), and scalability options. A cheap plan that goes down during a traffic spike costs more in lost revenue than a quality plan from the start.

§ 5 Note

Most hosting providers offer a one-click installer for WordPress, which is the fastest way to get a site running if you are not a developer.

§ 6 Common questions

Q. Can I host my own website from home?: A. Technically yes, but we don't recommend it. Home internet connections lack the uptime, bandwidth, static IP addresses, and security controls that professional hosting provides. A single power outage or DDoS attack takes you offline.
Q. How much does web hosting cost?: A. Shared hosting starts around $3 to $10 per month. VPS plans run $20 to $100 per month. Cloud hosting and managed plans vary widely based on resources and support level.

Key takeaways

Web hosting stores your site files on an internet-connected server so visitors can access them.
The type of hosting you choose directly impacts speed, security, uptime, and cost.
Cheap hosting usually means shared resources that hurt performance during traffic spikes.
Look for providers that offer SSL, backups, and at least 99.9% uptime SLA.

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# Web Hosting

Web hosting is a service that stores your website's files on a server and makes them accessible on the internet. Without hosting, your site has no home on the web.

Category: Infrastructure

Author: Atomic Glue Editorial Team

## Definition

## How Web Hosting Works

When someone visits your domain, their browser sends a request that travels through [DNS](/glossary/dns-management-a-record-cname) to find the server where your site's files live. That server processes the request and sends back the files to render the page. The hosting provider is responsible for keeping that server running, secure, and connected to the internet at all times. Without hosting, a domain name points to nothing.

## Types of Web Hosting

Hosting comes in several tiers with different tradeoffs. **Shared Hosting** places multiple sites on one server, making it cheap but prone to performance issues when neighbors spike traffic. **VPS (Virtual Private Server)** partitions a server into isolated virtual machines, giving you dedicated resources at a reasonable price. **Cloud Hosting** spreads your site across a network of servers that scale on demand. **Managed Hosting** wraps hosting with maintenance, updates, and support so you don't touch the server. The right choice depends on your traffic, budget, and technical comfort level.

## Key Factors in Choosing Hosting

## Note

Most hosting providers offer a one-click installer for WordPress, which is the fastest way to get a site running if you are not a developer.

## Common questions

Q: Can I host my own website from home?

A: Technically yes, but we don't recommend it. Home internet connections lack the uptime, bandwidth, static IP addresses, and security controls that professional hosting provides. A single power outage or DDoS attack takes you offline.

Q: How much does web hosting cost?

A: Shared hosting starts around $3 to $10 per month. VPS plans run $20 to $100 per month. Cloud hosting and managed plans vary widely based on resources and support level.

## Key takeaways

Web hosting stores your site files on an internet-connected server so visitors can access them.
The type of hosting you choose directly impacts speed, security, uptime, and cost.
Cheap hosting usually means shared resources that hurt performance during traffic spikes.
Look for providers that offer SSL, backups, and at least 99.9% uptime SLA.

## Related entries

Last updated July 2026. Permalink: atomicglue.co/glossary/web-hosting