Web Hosting 101: A Complete Beginner's Guide

Hosting is important for setting up a website. Individuals and organizations can use Web Hosting 101 to make their sites available on the Web. Once they select the best hosting option, they can easily, quickly, and securely find their websites online. Web hosting provides a server space where website owners can upload and store files that include HTML pages, images, website-related videos, and other content. If you are planning to create an online presence, know your needs and choose the best hosting service based on your needs. Here is a helpful blog to help you. 

This post covers everything you need to know about website hosting. So, review it before deciding and get started.

What is Web Hosting?  

Website hosting is dedicated to making the website accessible on the Web. A hosting provider stores the website files on servers connected to the Web. Thus, when users type in the website URL, the request will then be sent to the server where the site is hosted. The server will then send the websites' files to the user's browser, making them accessible online. This way, worldwide users can visit the site 24/7. Overall, selecting the best web hosting is selecting an excellent home on the Web for a website. The choice addresses all the needs. There are several types of web hosting. These are dedicated hosting, shared hosting, and virtual private networks. 

Different Types of Website Hosting

Website hosting comes in various types to address the needs of different types of businesses. When you plan to host a website, you can select from different types of hosting that suit your needs and services. There are limitless possibilities with website hosting. Below are a few types of Web Hosting 101. 

• Shared Hosting 
• Cloud Hosting 
• VPS Hosting 
• Dedicated Hosting 

1. Shared Website Hosting 

New website owners can find shared website hosting to be their best option. Shared website hosting enables different sites to reside on a single server and share resources efficiently. This hosting type will help them obtain optimum performance from a physical server. As a result, users will get good performance without investing a considerable amount. 

Shared Hosting: Pros & Cons

The benefit of shared website hosting is its affordable pricing. Its prices are often reasonable, and users can find it easy to launch their websites. The cons of this hosting type include deliveries of limited resources and little control. The shared hosting needs more controls, and website administrators can find it not performing well on development terms. 

2. Cloud Website Hosting 

It is one of the most popular web hosting services. Cloud hosting goes beyond traditional hosting by providing access to apps and websites with the help of cloud resources. Website administrators can use it to enhance experiences. This hosting type differs from shared hosting because it provides exclusive resources for each customer. Customers can thus not interfere with another customer. 

Cloud Hosting: Pros & Cons

Cloud hosting combines the advanced features of a dedicated and shared server. It aims to provide autonomy, performance, and security at an affordable price. It also provides optimized performance compared to the shared hosting type. What's attractive about this hosting type is the price. Another cons of cloud hosting is that the administrator must have advanced Linux knowledge. 

3. VPS Website Hosting 

VPS website hosting works by dividing the physical server into other virtual servers, where each site is hosted dedicatedly. However, in actuality, they are sharing a server with other users. Here, technology makes the server adapt resources based on users' needs. The server's capacity can be increased when there is a high demand. It is possible without paying permanently. VPS hosting allows users to pay for what they consume and when needed. It's similar to an electricity bill. 

VPS Hosting: Pros & Cons

VPS hosting can lower prices as it doesn't rely solely on physical PCs. Additionally, it adapts to users' needs. Website owners can find it worthwhile because of its flexibility and adaptability. VPS hosting adapts to users' needs while making enough resources available to serve the traffic. Since it is temporary, users only need to pay a little for the space that will not be used. On the contrary, some companies do not offer access to the basic server configurations needed to change configurations and installations manually. 

4. Dedicated Website Hosting/Dedicated Server 

Dedicated website hosting is 100% dedicated to users. It is like you have the entire server to yourself. The server includes a web server. Also, it can have the operating system that the customer wants. This Web Hosting 101 is often ideal for sites and projects with lots of traffic. All the resources are made available to allow them to enjoy the service to its fullest. This way, you don't have to worry about the resources. Also, you can lock down the server to fight against different types of hackers and online attacks. With all these features, users can find it best to drive large amounts of traffic. 

Dedicated Hosting: Pros & Cons

Since dedicated hosting includes everything a single user needs, its negative points are hard to identify. The option comes at higher prices, and developers need certain technical knowledge to make the most of it. Thus, the only disadvantage is that it may not be worthwhile for small sites or companies. 

There are four types of web hosting. Website owners can choose one based on their needs and purposes. 

How to Host a Website: 5 Easy Steps

If you want to host a website, you will need to follow the five practical steps below. 

Step 1: Decide on What is Your Website Type 

The first step to moving towards web hosting is deciding on the website type. You can choose among static or dynamic website options. After you decide on the website type, estimate the resources you need to perform it. Also, narrow down Web Hosting 101 services that are ideal for your requirements. 

Step 2: Select an Ideal Web Hosting Provider 

Ideal web hosting doesn't mean higher prices. When you consider going for one, go through the in-depth comparisons of all Web hosting providers and select the one that best suits your needs. Discovering real user insights into the pros and cons of web hosts is a good idea. 

Step 3: Choose a Web Hosting Plan 

When you plan to develop a website, you must select the best web hosting plan. Since each hosting type provides different resources, you must be extremely careful when choosing one. 

Step 4: Register a Unique Domain Name 

A domain name provides users with the address that visitors enter into their browsers to use the site. So, before you host the website, register for a unique domain name. You can't change the domain name after registration, so make a smart decision. 

Step 5: Create/Upload a Website 

The final step of website hosting is making the site live. You can utilize a reliable CMS or a website builder for an efficient process. After installing a suitable platform, you can begin developing your site. Select a perfect website theme, install supporting plugins, and create content accurately. 

Conclusion 

Selecting a Web Hosting 101 is a simple procedure. But, if you are a beginner, you can find the process tedious. There are various terms that you want for the first time. But, with a handful of information about hosting types, the pros and cons of specific hosting services, and how to host a website, you can get started with the service efficiently.