Web Host
A web host is a service provider that stores or "hosts" website files and makes them accessible over the internet. Website data may include HTML pages, CSS documents, web scripts images, and database information. When a user visits a webpage, the corresponding web host responds to the request and sends data to the web browser, as shown below.
Web hosting services range from low-cost shared plans to high-end dedicated and cloud-based solutions for high-traffic websites. Some examples include:
- Shared Hosting – Multiple websites share the same resources from a single machine, making it a cost-effective option for small websites.
- VPS Hosting – A Virtual Private Server server is divided into virtual sections, giving each website more dedicated resources.
- Dedicated Hosting – A single physical server is fully dedicated to one client, offering maximum performance and control.
- Cloud Hosting – Websites are hosted on multiple interconnected servers, providing scalability and redundacy.
- Managed Hosting – The web host handles server maintenance, monitoring, and updates. Managed services may be added to one of the different hosting options above.
Popular web hosting providers include Liquid Web, GoDaddy, HostGator, and AWS. Website (CMS) platforms like Wix, Weebly, and Squarespace provide their own hosting services.
Fun fact: TechTerms.com is hosted on a dedicated server from Liquid Web. The origin server is located in Lansing, Michigan, but most webpages are delivered from edge nodes around the world, from Cloudflare's CDN.
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