What Is Web Hosting? A Simple Explanation

Every website lives on a computer somewhere. Web hosting is renting space on that computer. Here's how it works and which type you need.

Think of your website as a shop. Your domain name is the address, and web hosting is the building where the shop sits. Without hosting, your website has nowhere to live.

How it works

Your website's files, images and database are stored on a server: a powerful computer that's always connected to the internet. When someone types your domain, their browser fetches those files from the server and displays your site.

Main types of hosting

• Shared hosting: many websites share one server. It's affordable and fine for small sites.
• VPS hosting: a virtual private slice of a server with dedicated resources. Good for growing sites.
• Cloud hosting: resources spread across multiple servers, easy to scale. See what is cloud hosting.
• Dedicated servers: an entire server just for you, for high-traffic sites and apps.
• Managed WordPress hosting: optimised specifically for WordPress, with updates and security handled.

What to look for

• Speed and server location close to your visitors
• Uptime reliability
• Free SSL certificates
• Automatic backups
• Responsive support

Not sure which you need? We offer managed hosting and are happy to advise.

Key takeaways

This guide on web hosting covered:

• How it works
• Main types of hosting
• What to look for

Web hosting checklist

Use this checklist to put the ideas above into practice:

• Email uses SPF, DKIM and DMARC to avoid the spam folder
• A firewall and malware scanning are active
• Software, plugins and the server are updated regularly
• Hosting resources match your traffic
• Admin accounts use strong passwords and two-factor login
• SSL is installed and renews automatically
• Daily backups are stored off the server and tested
• Uptime is monitored with alerts

Key terms explained

SPF, DKIM and DMARC

Email authentication records that prove messages really come from your domain and keep them out of spam.

CDN

A content delivery network that serves your files from locations near each visitor, making pages load faster.

DNS

The system that points your domain name to your server and email provider.

Backup retention

How many past backups are kept and for how long, so you can restore from before a problem started.

Malware

Harmful code that attackers inject into websites to steal data, show spam or redirect visitors.

VPS

A virtual private server with dedicated resources, suited to busier sites, online stores and web apps.

Shared hosting

Hosting where many websites share one server; affordable and fine for small, low-traffic sites.

Web hosting FAQ

What type of hosting does my website need?

Small business sites run well on good shared or managed hosting; busy online stores and web apps usually need a VPS or cloud server with more resources.

Why do my website emails go to spam?

Usually because the domain is missing SPF, DKIM or DMARC records, or the server has a poor sending reputation. Fixing these records makes a big difference.

What is website uptime monitoring?

A service that checks your site every few minutes and alerts you if it goes down, so problems are fixed before customers notice.

Why is SSL important?

SSL encrypts data between visitors and your site, shows the padlock in browsers and is a small ranking signal. Browsers warn visitors about sites without it.

How do I know if my website has been hacked?

Warning signs include strange redirects, unknown admin users, spam pages in Google results, browser warnings or a sudden slowdown. Regular scanning catches problems early.

How often should a website be backed up?

At least daily for active sites, with copies stored somewhere other than the server. Backups only count if you have tested restoring them.

How DigiGlobal can help

DigiGlobal provides fast, secure hosting with SSL, daily backups, updates and monitoring, and can move your existing website with no downtime. If you have questions about web hosting for your own business, our team is happy to help.

• Web Hosting & Domains: Fast, secure hosting with real humans to help when something goes wrong.
• Web Development: Websites and web apps that are quick, secure and built to grow with your business.
• Website Design: Good design isn't decoration. It's the reason a visitor stays, trusts you and picks up the phone.