Hosting is renting space on a computer (server) that stays on all the time, stores your website's files, and serves them to visitors on request. Without hosting, a site exists only as a folder of files on your own computer, and only someone with access to that computer can open it.
What happens when a visitor opens a website
When someone types a site address into a browser, a short chain of actions happens that ends with the page loading on screen. Here it is step by step.
- The browser takes the domain you typed and asks the DNS system which server it belongs to.
- DNS returns the IP address of the server where the site's hosting is located.
- The browser sends a request to that address and asks for the page it needs.
- The server finds the site's files and builds a response: html code, images, styles.
- The browser receives the response and shows the page to the visitor.
How hosting differs from a domain
A domain and hosting are usually bought together, but they are two separate services, and mixing up the terms is a common question of its own. A domain is the site's name, hosting is the place where it physically lives.
| Feature | Hosting | Domain |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Space for site files on a server | The site's name in the address bar |
| What it covers | How the site runs, speed, availability | Address recognition, reaching the site |
| Does one work without the other | Yes, but the site will not open by name | Yes, but the page will be empty without hosting |
| Where you buy it | From a hosting provider | From a domain registrar |
What types of hosting exist
Hosting services differ in how much server capacity one client gets and how isolated that client is from others. Here are four common options, with no claim that one is simply better.
| Type | Who it suits | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Shared hosting | A small site, blog, business card site | Server resources are split among many clients |
| VPS / VDS | A growing site, your own projects | Setup and updates become the tenant's job |
| Dedicated server | A large project with heavy load | Costs more and needs administration |
| Cloud hosting | A project with variable load | Configuration and cost change along with the load |
What a hosting service usually includes
The exact set of services differs between providers, but most plans share the same basic list. It covers everything an ordinary site needs to run.
- disk space for site files;
- traffic for receiving and sending data;
- databases for dynamic sites;
- mailboxes on the site's domain;
- an SSL certificate for a secure connection;
- a control panel for settings without contacting support.
What the hosting provider is responsible for, and what you are
The provider is responsible for the hardware working: the server stays on, the disk has not failed, the network is reachable, and infrastructure backups run on schedule.
You are responsible for the site's content: panel and mail passwords, CMS and plugin updates, backups of the site itself, and whatever is published on it.
How to figure out which hosting your site needs
Before choosing a plan, it helps to answer three practical questions about the project itself.
- how many visitors the site gets on an ordinary day and on peak days;
- what kind of site it is — a business card site, an online store, a service with its own code;
- whether the project needs its own software and full server access, or a ready-made environment is enough.
What to do next
If the domain is not bought yet or not pointed at the hosting, the difference between these two services is covered in how a domain differs from hosting. After moving or launching the site, the next step is turning on a secure connection, covered in how to enable an SSL certificate.