Website — a set of several Internet pages, combined into one and accessible by IP-address or domain name. In simple words, it is a kind of virtual book, each page of which contains certain information (texts, pictures, video materials) in the form of programming code written using different programming languages. Internet browsers now process this file information and on the computer screen the site becomes familiar to all of us with its design and structure.
For a web resource to be seen by all Internet users, it must get from the creator's computer to the server — a round the clock enabled computer that serves as a repository of folders and files, and provides constant access to the personal computers and the interaction between them through special software.
How does website hosting work?
Hosting is a service, which is to provide space on a server with constant access to the Internet, protection from hacker attacks and providing technical support for the site. Hosting provider stores all the files and databases of a web-resource, which rents a place on the server which belongs to him. When you enter the domain name of an Internet resource into the address bar, the browser sends all the files needed to serve the request.
Hosting works as a tenant — as long as the owner pays for space on the server web hosting maintains constant operation of the site.
To independently connect a web resource to the Internet network, you need knowledge of how the network works, what the network protocols are, how to configure the software (web server, database server and so on), and set a static IP address. An ordinary user can not do it, so the placement of the site on Internet servers engaged in professionals — hosting providers. They solve the regular tasks of managing the site and provide:
- software configuration;
- uninterrupted power supply;
- uninterrupted traffic through the Internet channel;
- round-the-clock support of technical specialists.
No programming knowledge is needed when renting hosting — hosting accounts have an intuitive graphical interface, where the site owner can independently manage the settings of his site:
- upload test, photo and video files to the server, necessary for quality presentation of the web resource to visitors;
- install content management systems, such as WordPress or any other CMS;
- manage the database of the web resource;
- add domains and create subdomains;
- create or delete email accounts.
Create backup copies of the site, and view statistics of the web resource.
The best hosting for beginners with low prices: WordPress, Bitrix, Joomla or any other CMS will do.
Remote management of resources provided by hosts, is carried out with the help of special software — a control panel hosting and billing panel.
Many hosting providers use cPanel — the most common hosting management tool, but there are other programs such as Plesk, hPanel, DirectAdmin, ISPmanager, which are much easier for users who do not want to spend a lot of time to create and run a web resource.
In addition to renting server space, hosting providers offer various services to manage a web resource:
- email hosting; SSL certificates to enhance site security (HTTPS protocol is usually used);
- web page designers; additional tools for developers;
- connection of online chat for customer support service;
- CMS installers: WordPress, Drupal, Joomla;
- automated backups (creating a backup database on a schedule).
Website hosting and domain name — what's the difference?
Every site on the Internet has a basis — it is a domain name and hosting. The concepts are related, but not equivalent.
Domain name is the address of a web resource, which is entered by the Internet user in the search bar of the browser. It consists of characters and numbers written in a particular format. It is the address that points the browser to the server where all of the site's resources are stored and can be interpreted into the site's IP address. Domain names work as shortcuts to the server hosting the site.
Hosting is a service to rent the resources of a powerful computer (server) that hosts the files and databases of the site. The server sends the content to visitors to the site after entering the domain name into the search box to open the site on the user's personal computer.
Without the domain name the site would have to remember its full IP address, which is almost impossible for a person to remember because of the large number of characters. A short domain name written in an understandable language is much more convenient to use for various activities on the Internet.
Domain names should be registered at official registrars (that most provide your provider for hosting) — legal entities that are authorized to develop new domain names and renew existing ones.
The distribution of domain names is regulated by ICANN (the international organization for the allocation of numbers and names). It determines whether a domain name is free, maintains a centralized database with addresses where domain names are directed, and determines the domain extension.
Most hosting providers are partners of registrars and offer their customers to register a new domain from their own control panel, but if the client site already has a domain name, it can be attached to the used hosting. The domain name, as well as hosting, is paid annually.
