A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding Web Hosting
Hosting is a service used for storing and delivering websites or other content accessible via the internet. Here's what can be done with hosting:
Website Publishing: Hosting services make it possible for a website to be accessible on the internet. This applies to various types of websites, from personal blogs to corporate sites, e-commerce sites, and forums.
Email Services: Many hosting providers offer the ability to create email accounts with your own domain name (e.g., yourname@yourdomain.com), allowing you to use a professional email address.
Database Hosting: Dynamic websites and applications need databases to store user information and content. Hosting services typically support database management systems like MySQL and PostgreSQL.
File Hosting and Sharing: Hosting allows you to securely store and share files. This is applicable to various file types such as images, videos, and documents.
Application Hosting: Web-based applications (e.g., CRM, ERP systems) or backends for mobile applications can be hosted, making your applications accessible over the internet.
Backup Services: Hosting providers often offer regular backups of your website and data, enabling data restoration in case of loss.
SSL Certificates: Hosting services usually provide SSL certificates, which enable secure connections (https) to your website. This increases user trust and can improve search engine rankings.
Server Management: Instead of managing your own server, you can benefit from the server management services offered by your hosting provider. This includes server maintenance, security patches, and performance optimization.
In essence, hosting provides the necessary infrastructure to create and manage an online presence sustainably. Depending on your needs, you can choose from different types of hosting such as shared hosting, virtual private server (VPS), cloud hosting, or a dedicated server.