A server is a physical computer that runs continuously so that your website is available at all times to anyone who wants to view it. Your hosting provider is responsible for keeping the server running, protecting it from malicious attacks, and transferring your content (text, images, files) from the server to your visitors' browsers.
How does web hosting work?
When you decide to create a new website, you need to find a hosting company that will provide you with server space. Your hosting provider stores all your files, media, and databases on the server. Every time someone types your domain name into their browser's address bar, your server transfers all the files needed to handle the request.
You need to choose the hosting plan that best suits your needs and purchase it. In fact, web hosting works similarly to renting a home: you have to pay rent regularly to keep the server running continuously.
To reduce risk, all Mox Networks plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can verify that our service truly fits your needs. Plus, you can start with our affordable Survival plan, which we designed specifically for smaller projects. When your website grows and you need more server space, you can upgrade to one of our more advanced plans without delay.
In fact, you don't even need any programming knowledge to perform everyday website management tasks. Hosting accounts come with a graphical user interface where you can manage all aspects of your website. For example, you can upload HTML and other files to the server, install content management systems like WordPress, access your database, and create backups for your site.
Although the cPanel hosting platform used by most web hosts is a powerful tool, it can be somewhat intimidating for non-technical users who just want to get a site up and running quickly. Therefore, our team decided to build a custom control panel for our users. We can proudly say that the Mox Networks control panel has an attractive and intuitive user interface that you'll immediately understand, even if it's your first time interacting with a web host. Our customers already love it, as it helps them manage all aspects of their hosting account with confidence and ease. In addition to providing server space for your website, hosting providers may also offer other services related to website management, such as:
* SSL certificates (for secure sites using the https:// protocol)
* Email hosting
* Website builders
* Developer tools
* Customer service (usually with live chat)
* Automatic website backups
* One-click software installations (e.g., for WordPress or Drupal)
More information on Web Hosting
Different types of hosting
Most hosting providers offer different types of web hosting to meet the needs of different customers. The most common types of hosting are:
* Web Hosting
* VPS Hosting (Virtual Private Server)
* Cloud Hosting
* ( Wordpress Hosting)
* Dedicated Server Hosting
The larger your website, the more server space you'll need. It's best to start small with a shared hosting plan and upgrade to a more advanced type of hosting as your site grows.
Hosting providers generally offer more than one hosting plan for each type of hosting.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is the most common type of web hosting and is an excellent solution for most small businesses and blogs. When you hear the word "web hosting," the person speaking is usually referring to shared hosting. With shared hosting, you share a server with other customers of your hosting provider. Websites hosted on the same server share all of its resources, such as memory, computing power, disk space, and more.
Pros:
* Low cost
* Easy to use for beginners (no specific technical knowledge required)
* Pre-configured server
* Easy-to-use control panel
* Server maintenance and administration are handled by the provider
Cons:
Little to no control over server settings
Increases in traffic on other websites can slow down your site
More information on Web Hosting
VPS Hosting
With VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting, you still share a server with other users; however, the provider assigns you a separate partition on the server. This means you get dedicated server space and a reserved amount of computing power and memory. In fact, VPS hosting can be ideal for mid-sized businesses with rapidly growing websites.
Pros:
* Dedicated server space (without having to pay for a dedicated server)
* Increases in traffic on other websites do not affect your performance at all
* Root access to the server
* Easily scalable
* High customization
Cons:
* More expensive than shared hosting
* You must have technical and server administration knowledge
* Cloud Hosting
Cloud Hosting
Cloud hosting is currently the most reliable solution on the market, as it has no downtime. With cloud hosting, your provider gives you a cluster of servers. Your files and resources are replicated on each server. When one of the cloud servers is busy or has a problem, your traffic is automatically routed to another server in the cluster.
Pros:
* Little to no downtime
* Server failures don't affect your site
* Allocates resources on demand
* Pay as you go (you only pay for what you use)
* More scalable than a VPS
Cons:
* It's difficult to estimate costs
* Root access isn't always provided
WordPress Hosting
WordPress hosting is a specific form of shared hosting, created for WordPress site owners. Your server is configured specifically for WordPress, and your site comes with pre-installed plugins for crucial things like caching and security. Because of the highly optimized setup, your site loads much faster and runs with fewer issues. Wordpress hosting plans often include additional WordPress-related features, such as pre-built WordPress templates, drag-and-drop page builders, and specific developer tools.
More information on WordPress Hosting
Pros:
* Low cost (often the same price as regular shared hosting)
* Beginner-friendly
* One-click WordPress installation
* Good performance for WordPress sites
* Customer support team trained in WordPress issues
* Pre-installed WordPress themes and plugins
Cons:
Recommended only for WordPress sites (this can be a problem if you want to host more than one website on your server and not all of them use WordPress)
Dedicated Server
Dedicated server hosting means you have your own physical server dedicated exclusively to your site. Therefore, dedicated hosting gives you incredible flexibility. You can configure your server however you want, choose the operating system and software you want to use, and configure the entire hosting environment to suit your needs.
In fact, renting a dedicated server is just as powerful as having your own on-site server, but it also comes with professional support from your provider.
Pros:
* Full control over server configuration
* High reliability (you don't share your server resources with anyone)
* Root access to your server
* High security
Cons:
* High cost
* Technical and server administration knowledge required
Difference between hosting and domain
In addition to signing up for a web hosting service, you also need to purchase a domain. What's the difference? While web hosting allows you to rent server space for your site, a domain is the address of your site; for example, our domain name is hostinger.es. When users want to visit your site, they will type the domain name into their browser's address bar, and your server will transfer the requested content.
With most hosting providers, you must purchase your domain name separately. Or, if you already have a domain, you can also transfer it to your current hosting provider. Similar to hosting plans, you have to pay for your domain annually to maintain ownership.
Tip: It's a good idea to have your hosting and domain under one roof to make your life easier. Find the perfect domain here:
Find .COM, .NET Domains, and More
So, what is web hosting?
Now, you know everything about hosting to get started with a new website. In general, web hosting is the service you need if you want to have an online presence. In fact, having a website gives you incredible advantages by allowing you to easily reach millions of users around the world.
A good hosting provider allows you to serve your content seamlessly online, provide your visitors with an excellent user experience, and attract as many users as possible to your website.