What Is Hosting? Website Hosting Explained
Have you ever wondered what hosting actually is? If you want to build a website, play an online game, or even just send email, you're dealing with hosting. But what does that word actually mean? In this article, we explain the concept of hosting in plain language, from the basic explanation to the different types of hosting that exist. Whether you're a beginner or just want to refresh your knowledge, after reading this article you'll know exactly what hosting involves.
What does hosting mean?
The word "hosting" comes from the verb "to host," which literally means "to be a host." If you host a party, you offer your guests a place, food, and drinks. Digital hosting works exactly the same way: you offer digital content a place on a server, so that others can access it via the internet.
When you "host" a website, it means that all the files of your website, the HTML pages, images, videos, databases, and code, are stored on a special computer (a server) that is connected to the internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As soon as someone types your domain name into their browser, these files are sent from that server to the visitor.
Hosting goes beyond just websites, though. It's a broad concept that applies to any service where digital data is made available via the internet. Think of email servers, game servers, cloud storage, and much more. At its core, hosting is always the same principle: a computer running somewhere that serves your data to the world.
Types of hosting: more than just websites
When people talk about "hosting," they often think directly of web hosting. But there are many more forms of hosting. Here's an overview of the main types:
Web hosting
This is the best-known form of hosting. With web hosting, your website's files are stored on a server connected to the internet. When visitors visit your website, the server sends the files to their browser. Web hosting is available in various forms, from shared servers to dedicated machines, we'll come back to that later.
Email hosting
Email hosting is the hosting of email servers. Every time you send or receive an email, it's processed by a mail server. With free services like Gmail or Outlook.com, this is handled for you, but if you want your own email address with your business name (info@yourbusiness.com), you need email hosting. This can be part of your web hosting plan or purchased as a separate service.
Game server hosting
Gamers know the concept of hosting all too well. In online multiplayer games, the game world runs on a server. Popular games like Minecraft, ARK: Survival Evolved, and Counter-Strike use dedicated game servers. You can host a game server on your own computer, but for better performance and uptime, many gamers rent a server from a hosting provider.
Cloud hosting
With cloud hosting, your files and applications aren't stored on a single physical server, but spread across a network of servers (the "cloud"). This offers advantages in terms of scalability and reliability. Examples include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. Cloud hosting is becoming increasingly popular with businesses that need flexibility.
Database hosting
Many applications and websites use databases to store information, think of customer data, product information, or user accounts. Database hosting is the hosting of these databases on specialized servers optimized for fast data retrieval. Popular database systems like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB are often hosted as part of a web hosting plan or as a standalone service.
Application hosting
Modern web applications (think Slack, Trello, or your online accounting software) run on servers specifically set up to run application code. This differs from traditional web hosting because it requires more processing power and memory. Platforms like Heroku, DigitalOcean App Platform, and Railway offer application hosting.
How exactly does web hosting work?
Let's take a closer look at the most common form of hosting: web hosting. The process works as follows:
- You build a website, this can be a simple HTML page, a WordPress site, or a complex web application.
- You upload the files to a server, via FTP, a control panel, or automatic deployment, you put your website files on your hosting provider's server.
- You connect a domain name, your domain name (e.g. yourwebsite.com) is linked via DNS to the server's IP address.
- A visitor types in your URL, the visitor's browser asks the DNS server: "Which IP address belongs to yourwebsite.com?"
- The server sends the website, the server receives the request and sends the requested files back to the visitor's browser.
- The browser shows the website, the browser processes the received files and displays the website to the visitor.
This entire process usually takes only a few hundred milliseconds. The speed depends on the server's location, the server's speed, and how well your website is optimized.
Types of web hosting compared
Not all web hosting is the same. Depending on the size of your website, the expected number of visitors, and your budget, you can choose from different types of web hosting.
Shared hosting
With shared hosting, you share a server with dozens or even hundreds of other websites. It's the cheapest option and perfect for small websites, blogs, and starting entrepreneurs. The downside is that you share server resources (CPU, RAM, bandwidth) with others. If another website on the same server gets a lot of traffic, it can affect your website's performance. Still, shared hosting is more than enough for most websites, as discussed in our guide on affordable web hosting.
VPS hosting (Virtual Private Server)
A VPS is a virtual server that runs on a physical machine but behaves as an independent server. You get guaranteed resources (CPU, RAM) and more control over the server configuration. VPS hosting is suitable for growing websites, online stores, and applications that need more processing power than shared hosting can offer.
Dedicated server hosting
With a dedicated server, you rent a complete physical server that is exclusively available to you. You have full control over the hardware and software. This is the most powerful (and most expensive) option, suitable for large websites with lots of traffic, complex applications, or businesses that need maximum control and security.
Cloud hosting
Cloud hosting combines the flexibility of the cloud with the reliability of multiple servers. Your website doesn't run on a single server but on a cluster. If one server fails, another takes over. You only pay for what you use and can easily scale up during traffic spikes. This is ideal for businesses with fluctuating visitor numbers.
Managed WordPress hosting
This is a specialized form of web hosting specifically optimized for WordPress. The hosting provider handles updates, security, backups, and caching for you. You only need to focus on creating content. Ideal if you have no technical knowledge and just want a fast, secure WordPress site.
The analogy: hosting as a rental home for your website
A handy way to understand hosting is to compare it to housing:
- Shared hosting = Renting a room in a student house. Cheap, but you share the kitchen and bathroom with others. If your housemate throws a party, you're affected too.
- VPS hosting = An apartment in a building. You have your own space with guaranteed facilities, but you share the building with others.
- Dedicated server = A detached house. Everything is yours, the garden, the garage, the entire space. But you also pay for everything yourself.
- Cloud hosting = A flexible hotel. You can easily take a bigger room if you need more space, and scale back down when things get quieter.
Just like choosing a home, the right choice depends on your needs and budget. A starting blogger doesn't need a dedicated server, just like a student doesn't need to rent a mansion.
What exactly does a web host do?
A web host (or hosting provider) is the company that manages the servers your website runs on. But a good web host does much more than just provide a server:
- Server maintenance: Hardware updates, operating system updates, and software patches are performed by the host.
- Guaranteeing uptime: A good host aims for at least 99.9% uptime, meaning your website is online almost all the time.
- Security: Firewalls, DDoS protection, malware scanning, and regular backups protect your website against threats.
- Technical support: If you have problems, you can turn to your host's customer service. Good hosts offer 24/7 support.
- Control panel: Through a user-friendly panel (such as DirectAdmin or cPanel), you can manage your website, email, databases, and more.
- Email: Most hosting plans also include email hosting, so you can create email addresses with your domain name.
- SSL certificates: A good host offers free SSL so your website is accessible via HTTPS.
At Theory7, you get all these services as part of your hosting plan, including personal support from a Dutch team that's always ready to help you.
What do you need to get started with hosting?
Want to put a website online yourself? Then you need three things:
- A domain name: This is your website's address (e.g. yourwebsite.com). You register a domain name with a domain registrar.
- A hosting plan: This is the space on a server where your website files are stored. Choose a plan that fits the size and expected traffic of your website.
- Your website files: This can be a self-built site, a WordPress installation, or another application.
With Theory7 web hosting, you can arrange your domain name and hosting in one go, which makes the whole process much simpler. Many hosting plans also include a one-click installer for popular software like WordPress, so you can set up a website within minutes.
Frequently asked questions about hosting
What does web hosting cost on average?
Shared web hosting starts at just a few euros per month. VPS hosting usually costs between €10 and €50 per month, depending on the specifications. Dedicated servers start at around €50 per month and can run up to hundreds of euros. For most websites, a shared hosting plan costing a few euros per month is more than enough.
Can I host my website on my own computer?
Technically that's possible, but it's strongly discouraged. Your computer would need to be on 24/7, you'd need a stable internet connection with a fixed IP address, and you'd have to handle security, updates, and backups yourself. The cost of electricity and the required knowledge quickly make it more expensive and less reliable than a professional hosting plan.
What's the difference between a domain name and hosting?
A domain name is your website's address (e.g. yourwebsite.com), it's the name people type in to find you. Hosting is the storage space where your website actually lives. You need both: the domain name tells the browser where to look, and the hosting is where the website is actually found. Compare it to a business name (domain) and the building where the business is located (hosting).
How long does it take before my website is online?
With most hosting providers, your account is active within minutes. Installing WordPress or another CMS often takes less than 5 minutes. The only thing that sometimes takes longer is DNS propagation after connecting your domain name, this can take up to 24-48 hours, though it's often arranged within a few hours.
What is uptime and why is it important?
Uptime is the percentage of time a server is online and reachable. An uptime of 99.9% means your website is offline for a maximum of 8.8 hours per year. For business websites, high uptime is essential, since every minute of downtime can cost you visitors and revenue.
Do I need to be technical to host a website?
No, modern hosting providers make it very easy. With a control panel like DirectAdmin, you can install WordPress, create email addresses, and manage your website with just a few clicks. Technical knowledge is a plus, but definitely not a requirement to get started with hosting.
Theory7: your Dutch web host
Looking for reliable web hosting from a Dutch provider? At Theory7, you get fast servers in Dutch data centers, personal support, and fair prices. Whether you want to host a simple blog, a business website, or an online store, we have a plan that fits you.
All Theory7 hosting plans include free SSL, daily backups, a user-friendly control panel, and the ability to create email addresses with your domain name. And if you get stuck anywhere, our Dutch-speaking support team is ready to help.
Want to know which type of hosting fits you best? Also read our web hosting for beginners guide, or check out our hosting plans right away.
What is hosting: comparing hosting types
To understand what hosting is, it helps to know the different forms. What does hosting mean with shared hosting versus a VPS? What does hosting mean with a dedicated server? What does hosting mean in the cloud? Below we compare the options so you understand what hosting means for each situation.
| Hosting type | What hosting means here | Suitable for | Price indication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared hosting | Shared server with other websites | Small websites and blogs | From 2 euros per month |
| VPS hosting | Virtual private server with your own resources | Growing websites | From 10 euros per month |
| Dedicated hosting | Complete physical server just for you | Large online stores and applications | From 50 euros per month |
| Cloud hosting | Flexible hosting across multiple servers | Fluctuating traffic | Pay per use |
What is hosting: frequently asked questions answered
If you're just starting to build a website, you probably have a lot of questions about what hosting actually involves. Below we answer the most frequently asked questions.
Do I always need hosting for a website?
Yes, every website needs hosting. Even if you use a free website builder, your site is hosted somewhere, you just don't pay for it directly. With free options, you often have limitations in terms of speed, storage, and a subdomain. If you want to come across as professional, hosting of your own with a domain name of your own is necessary.
Can I switch hosting providers later?
Absolutely. Moving your website to another hosting provider is always possible. Most providers offer free migration assistance. The process involves transferring files, databases, and email accounts. With the right preparation, you can move without downtime.
How much does web hosting cost on average?
The cost of web hosting ranges from free to hundreds of euros per month. Shared hosting costs an average of 3 to 15 euros per month, a VPS 15 to 60 euros, and a dedicated server 80 to 300 euros. For most websites, a shared hosting plan of 5 to 10 euros per month is more than enough to get started.
What is hosting: the terms explained
The world of hosting is full of jargon that can be confusing for beginners. A server is the computer your website runs on. A data center is the building where servers are housed, with climate control and power supply. Bandwidth is the amount of data your website can send per month. Uptime is the percentage of time your server is reachable, 99.9% means a maximum of 8.7 hours of downtime per year. An IP address is your server's unique numerical address on the internet, and your domain name is the readable version of that. FTP is the protocol you use to upload files to your server, and cPanel or DirectAdmin is the control panel you use to manage your hosting.
What is hosting: the next step
Now that you know what hosting is and what options exist, it's time to take the next step. Compare hosting providers based on your specific needs, choose a plan that fits your budget and ambitions, and get started building your website. At Theory7, we're happy to help you choose the right hosting plan and offer personal support at every step of your online journey.
Check out our web hosting offerings at Theory7 for reliable and fast hosting.
