Hosting
Definition
Hosting refers to the service of storing and serving websites, applications, and data on servers connected to the internet. When a business or individual purchases hosting, they are essentially renting space on a server where their files, databases, and resources are kept. Hosting makes a website accessible to users worldwide through a domain name.
Different types of hosting are available, ranging from shared hosting for small websites to dedicated servers, cloud hosting, and managed hosting solutions for enterprises.
Advanced
At an advanced level, hosting involves server configuration, uptime management, bandwidth allocation, and security monitoring. Providers may use virtual private servers, dedicated hardware, or cloud infrastructure to deliver services.
Advanced hosting features include load balancing, caching, distributed storage, SSL certificates, automated backups, and DDoS protection. Businesses often combine hosting with CDNs and DNS management for optimal performance and resilience.
Why it matters
Use cases
Metrics
Issues
Example
An online retailer upgrades from shared hosting to a cloud hosting provider. With scalable resources and global server availability, the site handles traffic spikes during sales events without downtime, improving revenue and customer satisfaction.