If you also want to know what hosting is , I promise you won’t regret reading this article. Today we are going to learn in the simplest and most conceptual way what is a host. To identify the suitable hosting for our site, and to learn all the necessary knowledge of hosting concepts .
Have you ever wondered where a website is? Or what is its nature? We usually turn on our computer, open the browser and leave the rest to Google. But what exactly happens when we visit a website? This is where interesting concepts like hosting and domains come into play !
If you plan to buy hosting , reading this article is a must!
First of all, we must explain the site structure and hosting concepts with an example:
Hosting roles in websites
To better understand it, we need to know a little about the structure of the site. Building a website has its own rules, just like opening a shop. Imagine that we are going to open our own bag and shoe boutique right now. Like it or not, we have to go through the following steps:
1. Name selection (domain section)
When starting a real store or shop, we need to choose a name for it. Choosing a domain name is the first step for website design. Domain is defined as “domain extension.domain name.www”. To choose and buy different types of site addresses, you can go to the domain registration section on the Iran server site.
Before that, we have in the articles on what is a domain and the domain name selection guide talked about the dos and don’ts and the tips of buying a good domain ; We suggest you read them.
2. Renting a shop (parts)
Well, now it’s time to visit the shops and find a suitable shop. This step is the same step that we deal with until the end of the article! Hosting is just like a storefront for a website. In a physical store, we have to rent a shop in which to put the goods. In the same way, we need to rent space on the site to place information, photos and files. This space and memories are called hosts.
3. Store management (content management system)
Of course, our shop is not going to remain empty and new items are added to the showcase every day!
On the site, you should constantly add new content and update the content and…
Continuously entering this information by coding is very difficult and complicated! Instead, you can use a content management system . These systems make it easy to manage and add new content to the site. For example, we can mention WordPress; The world’s most popular content management system!
4. Decor and charm (site template section)
And the last step is the arrangement and decoration of the store. This issue is also important in websites. You must know many sites whose stylish design and graphics have attracted you. The design of the site is done with the help of a template.
The site template is mounted on the information like a shell and determines the font, color, dimensions and overall site environment. Various ready-made templates for the site can be purchased; But if you have a special design in mind, you can ask a designer to design it for you!
What is a host and what is its use?
Well, now that you are familiar with the general view of the case, it is time to define it precisely:
Host is a part of a server where your website information is placed. In the hosting spaces, you can enter website pages, images, photos, and all kinds of files. In this way, users all over the world can visit your site.
With web hosting rentals, it’s like having a shop where you can put your products. Now users can visit your pages at any hour of the day by entering your site address.
Actually, the host is also called web hosting (the English word host means hosting.)
To avoid confusion, let me talk a little about the server.
What is a server and how is it different from a host?
A server is a type of computer; But with its own special function! These powerful devices consist of hardware components that have the highest processing power. Servers are used for things like web hosting . Because of this important use, these devices must always be turned on, connected to the Internet, and accessible.
When access is limited to one network, we are dealing with a network server. (Maybe you have seen a special server in your company that is only available to you and your colleagues)
But when the server access is between all the computers that are connected through the Internet, they mean Internet servers. These are the servers that provide you with the information when you search for a topic.
And what is the difference between server and host?
A web hosting server divides its space and makes each part available to one client. When you rent hosting, you own a small space of this server. From one to 500 sites (under certain conditions) can use the server at the same time!
To better understand, think of a server as a big building where you rent a small unit as a host. (Of course, if your company is big, you can rent the entire building! This is called a dedicated server. Don’t rush, we will get to know the different types of servers.)
But aren’t servers also a type of computer? So why are personal computers not used as hosts?!
Use a personal computer instead
Such work is almost impossible for continuous use! Personal computers are much weaker and more limited than servers. The server that the hosting provider offers is powerful and has high bandwidth . In addition, the server must be open 24/7 so that users can access the site at different times. This is practically impossible to do with personal computers.
All this aside! To protect servers, hosting companies keep them in special spaces called data centers (pictured above). In the data centers, all arrangements such as emergency power, dealing with earthquakes, fires, etc. have been taken into account. A skilled team is also available to solve possible software problems; But your personal computer will be out of reach with any small problem and the audience of your site will be lost.
But in the meantime, we also have something called localhost, which is very useful!
What is localhost?
Localhost is your computer that can be used as a server. When you dial an IP address into your computer, you connect to another computer. But if you call the address 127.0.0.1, it is as if you are connected to localhost (your computer).
What is the point of localhost? If you want to start a website or an application or are learning programming, you can use your computer resources as a simple server and do not pay for hosting at the beginning.
Let’s go back to the main topic of the article. There are different types of hosts!
What is meant by types of hosts?
When buying a host , you will encounter different types; Because hosting companies offer different hosts for different needs. For example, if you are just a simple blogger, you need a different host than a large business website. In the following, we will learn about the definition of Host types.
Imagine a server that is divided into several partitions. Each of these sections is a shared host. Each server can share up to hundreds of hosts! This type of hosting has a reasonable price; Because the cost of maintaining the server is shared among all users. In general, if your site does not have high traffic, you are a beginner and you do not want to spend a lot, shared hosting will meet your needs.
2. Dedicated Web Hosting
In these types of hosting, a server is available to only one customer. So, naturally, its benefits are more than the shared type. High security, dedicated bandwidth, high speed (which leads to SEO improvement) are some of the advantages of dedicated hosting.
Of course, if you choose this type of hosting, think about the setup phase and the price. We recommend that you go for these types of hosts only if you have a large and highly visited site (for example, more than 100,000 visits per month). Dedicated hosting is expensive.
3. Host or virtual server (VPS)
Virtual hosting (or virtual server, which we mostly know as VPS) is something between dedicated and shared hosting! In this service, the space of a server is divided with the help of hypervisor technology.
But an important point: this shared hosting has more independence than shared hosting. Because you can install the operating system or the program you want according to your needs. Without having to deal with neighboring hosts! In addition, VPS has advantages over dedicated hosting. The cost of this service is very affordable and about one-fifth to one-tenth of a dedicated host!
4. Cloud Web Hosting
Cloud hosting is the latest web hosting technology. Until now, only one server hosted your site. But in cloud hosting, several servers support your site. In this way, the versions of the website are placed on several servers and hosted in parallel. Now if you say what is the benefit of this work?
If one of the servers has a problem in serving, the next server makes the site available to the user. Or if the server ever needs an upgrade or repair , your site will still work on the other server. In this way, the down time of the site is almost zero. Big companies like Google use these hosts for constant availability. You can read more information in the dedicated article What is cloud hosting ?
5. Free Web Hosting
And finally, let’s check out the tempting free hosting. Hosting companies usually provide this service with the aim of attracting customers and testing the service. The point here is that server maintenance in the data center, hosting support, and the hosting company itself are expensive. Now do you think it is reasonable to offer the hosting to the customer for free ? Definitely not! There is free hosting. But the fact is that the more money we pay, the more food we eat! This type of service has many limitations that are not worth the risk