Web hosting service

A web hosting service is a type of <a href="/facts/Internet_hosting_service/kGcQcePr">Internet hosting service</a> that hosts <a href="/facts/Websites/SAsjJnca">websites</a> for clients, i.e. it offers the facilities required for them to create and maintain a site and makes it accessible on the <a href="/facts/World_Wide_Web/wvnTrWFq">World Wide Web</a>. Companies providing web hosting services are sometimes called web hosts.
Typically, web hosting requires the following:

<ul><li>one or more <a href="/facts/Server_(computing)/dEaYFD7r">servers</a> to act as the <a href="/facts/Host_(network)/HPNcFXHk">host(s)</a> for the sites; servers may be physical or <a href="/facts/Hardware_virtualization/6e2Bhhz2">virtual</a>;</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Colocation_centre/ImV12m22">colocation</a> for the server(s), providing physical space, electricity, and <a href="/facts/Internet/Xw1rVvJU">Internet</a> connectivity;</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Domain_Name_System/rfxdWFsj">Domain Name System</a> configuration to define name(s) for the sites and point them to the hosting server(s);</li>
<li>a <a href="/facts/Web_server/A4GS6thA">web server</a> running on the host;</li>
<li>for each site hosted on the server:
<ul><li>space on the server(s) to hold the files making up the site;</li>
<li>site-specific configuration;</li>
<li>often, a <a href="/facts/Database/VYcpkevb">database</a>;</li>
<li>software and <a href="/facts/Credential/wsuEjr95">credentials</a> allowing the client to access these, enabling them to create, configure, and modify the site;</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Email/6pD9GLtI">email</a> connectivity allowing the host and site to send email to the client.</li></ul></li></ul>

Web hosting service open-in-new

Web hosting service