Hosting Meaning: What is Web Hosting and What Variants Are There?

If you’re starting your own website, sooner or later you’ll also have to deal with the hosting of that site. The website must be “hosted” to go live so that you can receive visitors. But what exactly is hosting, how does it work, and what types of hosting are there? In this article, we answer these questions.

What is hosting?

Hosting is the piece of web space you need to use your domain name and website. With web hosting, you host your website on a server that is always connected to the internet.

Hosting is needed if you want to create a site and receive visitors on your website. Without hosting, your website cannot be reached, even if you have already registered a domain name. 

This can be compared to having a phone number but no credit or subscription. In this comparison, the domain name is the phone number, and the hosting is the credit. 

When do I need hosting?

If you are going to start with a website, you will always need hosting; otherwise, your website cannot go online. It is often possible to build the website in your CMS (content management system) before you actually go live. 

You can then work on the site without people seeing it. The moment you want to go live, you need web hosting. So all websites on the internet always need hosting to receive visitors.

How does web hosting work?

Let’s zoom in further on the technology behind web hosting. Hosting ensures that all files, elements, and other content of your website are stored and then made available to an internet browser. 

When a new user enters your domain name, a translation is made to different IP numbers. This is also called the IP address of your website. The IP address connects the user on your site with the server where the website and all information are stored. 

The server then provides the correct information, allowing the user to view and use your website. In short, this is how your website’s hosting works.

Different types of hosting

If you delve into webhosting, you will find that there are many different types of hosting. It is important that the type of hosting fits your website’s requirements. A large e-commerce platform needs different hosting than a small blog.

By choosing the right form of hosting, you prevent problems that could arise, and you avoid possibly paying too much. Choosing the right type of hosting is an important step for the success of your project.

Shared hosting

Shared hosting is one of the most common and affordable hosting options you can find. Multiple websites are hosted on a server, and the server is shared between multiple users. The big advantage is that the costs are low because you share the server with other users and share the costs. 

On the other hand, performance is also somewhat reduced. If site A has a lot of visitors, site B may be affected. Larger websites, therefore, often have their own server for the best performance. Nevertheless, shared hosting is ideal for small websites and a good starting point for new website owners.

• For whom: Beginners, small websites, personal blogs.
• How it works: Multiple websites share the same server resources, such as CPU, RAM, and storage space.
• Advantages: Cheap, easy to set up, no technical knowledge required.
• Disadvantages: Lower performance, less security, shared resources can affect performance if other websites generate a lot of traffic.

Virtual Private Server (VPS)

A VPS, or Virtual Private Server, works as an isolated server environment. Unlike shared hosting, you get your own private server. It is true that a VPS still shares the physical server hardware with other virtual private servers. Just like with shared hosting, you also share the server with other virtual private servers in a VPS. 

The difference with shared hosting lies in the available resources. With VPS hosting, you get specific and dedicated hardware resources like RAM and CPU, intended exclusively for your use and not shared with others. With VPS hosting, you are assured of certain hardware and thus performance based on the chosen hosting plan.

• For whom: Growing websites, small to medium-sized companies.
• How it works: You have an isolated virtual server with reserved hardware resources.
• Advantages: Better performance and security than shared hosting, customizable and scalable. No performance loss due to other users.
• Disadvantages: More expensive than shared hosting, requires some technical knowledge for management.

Dedicated hosting

Dedicated hosting means that there is a dedicated server, exclusively intended for an organization or user. Whether it concerns one or more websites, all applications run on a server that is fully dedicated to the user. Thus, there is a dedicated hosting solution.

Dedicated hosting is especially interesting for larger websites. For example, if there are large databases, websites with a lot of content, or many visitors simultaneously on the website, then dedicated hosting is probably one of the best solutions. 

You are not affected by other users of the server and have full performance at your disposal. Naturally, this is also much more expensive than a VPS or shared hosting.

• For whom: Large websites, e-commerce platforms, companies with high traffic volumes.
• How it works: You have a complete physical server for yourself.
• Advantages: Maximum performance, full control over server configuration and security.
• Disadvantages: Expensive, requires advanced technical expertise for management and maintenance.

Cloud hosting

Cloud hosting is referred to when you host a website that is not dependent on a single location for its server but uses a network of servers spread across different locations. A cluster of servers is used for this.

One of the advantages is that there are no problems if you suddenly experience a large increase in visitor numbers. At such times, other servers in the network are deployed to ensure the website can run smoothly.

Cloud hosting is a good choice if you have a website with regularly peaking visitor numbers. Moreover, it is ideal for websites with an international audience. This is because the servers of your cloud hosting provider can be located in different locations. 

This provides a noticeable speed improvement, similar to the operation of a Content Delivery Network (CDN).

• For whom: Scalable websites, international startups, projects with fluctuating traffic patterns.
• How it works: You use resources from a network of virtual servers in the cloud.
• Advantages: Scalability, reliable international performance, only pay for what you use.
• Disadvantages: Costs can be variable, technical configuration can be complex.
  

Managed hosting

Managed hosting is a form of web hosting where the website operates on a server that is fully under the hosting company’s responsibility. This means that as a developer or owner of a website, you no longer have to worry about the technical management and maintenance of the web server.

With Managed hosting, the hosting provider takes on all the “heavy lifting,” such as server security, regular backup procedures, and keeping the server software up to date. This ensures that as a website owner or developer, you are always assured of a website that functions reliably and stably, without having to invest time and effort in server management.

Managed hosting is especially interesting for websites and applications where continuous availability is crucial. This applies, for example, to large-scale e-commerce platforms, websites with a large number of visitors, and applications in sectors such as healthcare, where the security of server data is of utmost importance.

• For whom: Website owners who want to outsource their web hosting to experts.
• How it works: A hosting provider manages all technical aspects of your website, including server configuration, security updates, and performance optimization.
• Advantages: Convenience and peace of mind, no technical knowledge required, high-quality support, focus on website content instead of infrastructure.
• Disadvantages: Can be more expensive than self-managed options, less control over server configuration.

What else to consider when purchasing web hosting

In addition to looking at the type of hosting, there are other important things to pay attention to before choosing a hosting provider. We have listed them below for you. 

Performance is one of the most important features you seek in a hosting provider. It is obviously important that your website is fast, so visitors have a pleasant experience on the site. Therefore, always check what kind of performance you can expect from the hosting provider.

Uptime and reliability

Your website can be fast, but if it’s offline, it’s of no use to you. The uptime and reliability of the hosting are therefore very important. Most providers often guarantee a 99.99% uptime guarantee. Check if this is true and if the provider can deliver on this. There’s nothing more frustrating than a website that’s offline.

Scalability

When starting a new project, we naturally assume it will be successful. For this reason, it is always pleasant if the hosting is scalable. Can you easily upgrade the package if you suddenly get much more traffic than initially expected, or is it not so easy? We always recommend hosting with a provider where you can easily scale.

Bandwidth and data limits

It is also very important to look at the bandwidth and data limits included in your hosting package. A website takes up space; the larger and more complex the site, the more space it takes. Always check if there is enough bandwidth in your package.

Support and customer service

Another aspect that’s good to check is the provider’s customer service and support. Do you get help, for example, with setting up an email address if you can’t figure it out? Can you call the hosting provider or only email them? It often occurs that as a starter, you don’t know exactly how some things work. It’s useful to quickly receive support.

Security

If you have a website and hosting, you naturally want everything to be well secured. Is there a good firewall in place, are the servers regularly updated, are regular backups made? Always thoroughly check what kind of security is in place with the provider.

The costs

Also certainly not unimportant, the costs of the hosting. Ultimately, you are looking for the best price-quality ratio. The price of hosting depends on many factors. The best way remains to compare different providers and packages and see which best fits your specific needs.

Location of the server

Finally, the location of the server can also play an important role. Like it or not, the server’s location affects speed. A user in the Netherlands has a faster experience on a server located in the Netherlands than in another location. Additionally, you may have to deal with different laws and regulations. 

These are the most important things to consider when acquiring web hosting. Make sure to check how this is arranged with a provider and compare if it matches your wishes and requirements.

Hosting at my.host

If you are looking for quality and reliable hosting, you don’t really need to look any further. You are currently on the website of one of the best hosting providers in the Netherlands. 

We currently score a 4.8/5.0 based on 538 experiences. You can turn to my.host for registering your domain name, web hosting, or other services such as Microsoft 365. You can register your domain name for 4.99 p/m, our customer service is available 7 days a week, and you have the best security plus an actual 99.99% uptime guarantee.

If you have any questions about what web hosting is or other matters related to web hosting, do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to help you further.