What is web hosting? Explanation for beginners

When you want to create a website, you quickly encounter the term "web hosting". But what does this actually mean? In this article, we explain in an understandable way what web hosting is, how it works, and what different types exist.

The basics: what is web hosting?

Web hosting is simply the service that makes your website available on the internet. You can compare it to renting a piece of space on a computer (a server) that is online 24/7. In that space, you place all your website files: texts, images, videos, and code.

When someone visits your website, their browser retrieves these files from that server. Within seconds, your website appears on the visitor's screen. Without web hosting, no one would be able to visit your website.

How does web hosting work?

The web hosting process works as follows:

1. The server

A web hosting company has powerful computers (servers) that are constantly on and connected to the internet. These servers have special software that can host websites and make them available to visitors.

2. The domain

Your domain name (for example www.yourname.com) is your website's address. This domain is linked to the IP address of the server where your website is located. When someone types in your domain name, it is automatically forwarded to the correct server.

3. The connection

When a visitor requests your website, the server sends all necessary files to the visitor's browser. This happens via the internet and usually goes very quickly.

What do you need for web hosting?

To use web hosting, you need several things:

• A domain name: This is the address where people can find your website
• Website files: The HTML, CSS, images, and other files that together form your website
• A hosting package: The space on a server where you place these files

Most web hosting companies offer packages that include everything. You then pay a monthly or annual fee for hosting and often also for the domain.

Different types of web hosting

There are different types of web hosting available, each with their own advantages and disadvantages:

Shared hosting

With shared hosting, you share a server with multiple other websites. This is the most affordable option and perfect for beginners and small websites. All users share the server's resources (such as memory and processing power).

Advantages:

• Very affordable
• Easy to use
• No technical knowledge required
• Maintenance is done by the hosting provider

Disadvantages:

• Limited resources
• Performance can vary
• Less control over the server

VPS hosting

VPS stands for Virtual Private Server. With this form, you get a virtually separated part of a server. You do share the physical server with others, but you have guaranteed resources and more control.

Advantages:

• Better performance than shared hosting
• More control and customization options
• Guaranteed resources
• Affordable alternative to dedicated hosting

Disadvantages:

• More expensive than shared hosting
• More technical knowledge required
• You have to manage more yourself

Dedicated hosting

With dedicated hosting, you rent a complete server for yourself. No other websites share resources with you. This is the most powerful but also most expensive option.

Advantages:

• Maximum performance
• Full control
• All resources are yours
• Highest level of security

Disadvantages:

• Very expensive
• Much technical knowledge required
• Responsible for maintenance yourself

What hosting do you need?

The choice for a certain type of hosting depends on various factors:

• For beginners and small websites: Shared hosting is perfect. It is affordable and easy to use.
• For growing websites: Consider VPS hosting if you get more visitors or want to install specific software.
• For large websites and webshops: Dedicated hosting offers the best performance and security.

What to look for when choosing web hosting?

When choosing a web hosting provider, there are some important points to consider:

1. Reliability: Choose a provider with high uptime (preferably 99.9% or higher)
2. Speed: Fast loading times are important for visitors and for Google
3. Customer service: Good support is essential, especially if you are a beginner
4. Price: Compare different providers, but don't choose based on price alone
5. Scalability: Can you easily upgrade as your website grows?

Where can you find web hosting?

There are dozens of web hosting providers available. Compare different hosting providers to make the best choice for your situation. Pay attention to the factors we mentioned above.