What is web hosting and why do you need it?

What is web hosting?

Web hosting is a service that makes your website visible on the Internet. In practice, this means that the hosting provider stores all the files of your website (images, text, videos, databases) on its server – a powerful computer that is permanently connected to the Internet.

When someone types your domain name (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com) into a browser, the server quickly sends all the necessary data to the visitor so that the website displays correctly.

It is important to know that a domain and web hosting are not the same thing. A domain is only the address of your website, while hosting provides the space where all the files and data are stored.

Web hosting is essential for anyone who wants to have their own website – from bloggers and small businesses to large online stores. If you are just starting out and are interested in the basics of web hosting, you can think of it as renting space: just like you store documents in an office, you store your website’s files on a server.

Why is this important?

• Without web hosting, your website cannot be accessible to others.
• Hosting affects page loading speed, security, and reliability. If the server is slow or often unavailable, it will annoy visitors and harm your SEO.

How does web hosting work?

Web hosting works by having the hosting provider store all the files of your website on its server. When someone visits your site, their computer or mobile device sends a request to the server, which responds in a few milliseconds by sending back all the data needed to display the page correctly.

The process of web hosting operation

1. Entering the domain in a browser – the user types the address of your site (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com).
2. Connection between domain and server – the DNS (Domain Name System) translates the domain name into an IP address, which tells which server hosts the site.
3. Data transfer – the server sends files (images, HTML, CSS, databases) to the visitor’s browser.
4. Website display – the browser assembles this data into a complete page that the user sees.

Why is this important for choosing hosting?

• Server speed determines how fast the page loads.
• Server location affects loading speed for visitors from specific countries.
• Reliability and uptime ensure your site is always accessible.

Types of web hosting

Web hosting is not a single service – there are several types, differing in performance, cost, and usage. The right choice depends on what type of website you want and how many visitors you expect.

Shared hosting

The cheapest and most popular option for beginners. Multiple websites share one server and its resources (CPU, memory).
✅ Suitable for small websites, blogs, and personal projects.
❌ Less suitable for larger sites as it can slow down with higher traffic.

VPS hosting (Virtual Private Server)

The server is divided into several virtual sections, and each user has their own “part of the server.”
✅ Higher performance and flexibility than shared hosting.
❌ Requires basic technical knowledge to manage.

Dedicated hosting

You have an entire server to yourself.
✅ Maximum performance, security, and control.
❌ More expensive, suitable mainly for large e-commerce stores or high-traffic websites.

Cloud hosting

Data is stored on multiple interconnected servers (in the cloud).
✅ Excellent for fast growth because you can add more resources anytime (scalability).
✅ Greater reliability as the site remains online even if one server fails.
❌ Costs may increase depending on resource usage.

WordPress hosting

Specifically optimized for WordPress websites.
✅ Easy installation, often includes automatic updates and backups.
❌ Less suitable for other types of websites.

Why do you need web hosting?

Every website that wants to be accessible online needs web hosting. Without it, your files wouldn’t be stored on a server, and visitors wouldn’t be able to see your site.

In addition to basic accessibility, quality hosting offers other important benefits:

• Page loading speed: Fast hosting means a faster website. Visitors often leave slow-loading pages, which impacts the user experience and SEO rankings.

• Reliability and uptime: A good hosting provider guarantees high uptime (99.9% or more), which means your site will almost always be available. Frequent outages can harm your reputation and reduce sales.

• Data security: Reliable hosting often includes an SSL certificate, protection against hacking attempts, and automatic backups, which protect both your data and your visitors’ data.

• Support for growth: Quality providers allow easy plan upgrades as your site grows and requires more resources (more storage, faster servers).

• Better user experience and trust: Fast and secure hosting gives visitors a sense of professionalism and trust, which is crucial for online stores and businesses.

How to choose the right web hosting?

Choosing the right web hosting is crucial for the success of your website. A wrong decision can cause slow loading, frequent downtime, and security issues, while the right choice ensures fast, secure, and stable website performance.

• Type of website and expected traffic

1. Small blog or personal site → shared hosting.
2. E-commerce or business site → VPS or cloud hosting.
3. Large portal with high traffic → dedicated hosting.

• Server speed and performance: Check whether the provider uses SSD drives, modern processors, and optimized servers. A faster server means a better user experience and improved SEO rankings.

• Reliability (uptime): Choose a provider that guarantees at least 99.9% uptime. Check user reviews and uptime guarantees.

• Security and backups: The provider should offer an SSL certificate, protection against attacks, and regular backups. This is especially important for e-commerce sites and websites with sensitive data.

• Technical support: A good provider offers 24/7 support, quick response times, and assistance in a language you understand.

• Upgrade options: Check if you can easily upgrade to a more powerful plan later as your site grows.

• Price and additional costs: Cheap hosting is not always the best choice – check the balance between price and performance. Pay attention to hidden costs (extra charges for SSL, backups, etc.).

How much does web hosting cost?

The price of web hosting depends on the type of service, performance, and additional features the provider offers. Prices can range from a few euros per month to several hundred euros for advanced or dedicated servers.

How to buy and set up web hosting?

1. Buying and setting up web hosting is now an easy process that anyone can do, even without technical knowledge. Follow these steps:
2. Choose the right provider and hosting plan: Consider the type of website, expected traffic, speed, and security requirements. Check user reviews and upgrade options.
3. Register a domain: Most providers allow domain registration when purchasing hosting. Choose a short, simple, and memorable domain that represents your brand.
4. Complete the purchase and create an account: Select a plan, add the domain, and make the payment. After purchase, you’ll receive access to the control panel (cPanel, Plesk, or a custom solution).
5. Connect the domain to the hosting: If the domain is registered with the same provider, this usually happens automatically. If it’s registered elsewhere, you’ll need to update the DNS records.
6. Install your website (e.g., WordPress): Most providers offer one-click WordPress installation or other platforms. After installation, you can log in to the admin area and start customizing your site.
7. Check functionality and set up basic security measures: Make sure your site loads correctly. Activate the SSL certificate, configure basic security plugins, and enable automatic backups.

Security and backups in web hosting

Security is one of the most important factors when choosing web hosting. Poor security can lead to hacking attacks, data loss, and even make your site inaccessible. A reliable hosting provider should ensure multiple levels of protection and the possibility of regular backups.

SSL certificate (https)

Encrypts data between the server and the visitor’s browser. It increases visitors’ trust and is important for SEO.

Protection against hacking and malware

The provider should use a firewall and protection against DDoS attacks. Automatic malware detection and removal are recommended.

Automatic backups

Regular backups (daily or weekly) are essential so you can quickly restore your site in case of errors or attacks.

Server updates and monitoring

A good provider regularly updates server software and provides 24/7 monitoring.

User access to backups

Check if you have the option for manual site restoration or downloading backups to your computer.

Most common mistakes when choosing web hosting

When choosing web hosting, beginners often make mistakes that can lead to slow site performance, security issues, or unnecessary extra costs. Here are the most common mistakes and how to avoid them:

• Choosing the cheapest provider without checking quality: Cheap plans often mean slow servers, frequent downtime, and poor support. Always check user reviews and the price-performance ratio.
• Ignoring future website growth: Many beginners choose a plan that cannot handle growth. Make sure the provider allows easy plan upgrades.
• Neglecting security and backups: Some choose hosting without an SSL certificate or regular backups, which can lead to data loss. Check what’s included in the base price.
• Paying too little attention to technical support: Cheap providers often lack responsive support, which is a problem when technical issues occur. Choose a provider with 24/7 support.
• Not checking renewal conditions: Many providers offer promotional prices only for the first year, after which the price rises significantly. Check the renewal cost before purchasing.

How to upgrade or change your web hosting?

As your website grows and requires more resources (speed, storage, performance), it’s time to upgrade your plan or even switch to another provider. The process is usually simple if you prepare properly.

When is it time to upgrade?

• The site loads more slowly due to increased traffic.
• You are exceeding the allowed storage or bandwidth in your current plan.
• You need additional features such as advanced security or support for larger databases.

How to upgrade your plan with the same provider?

1. Log in to the control panel (cPanel, Plesk, or the provider’s own solution).
2. Select the "Upgrade Plan" option and choose a higher plan (e.g., from shared hosting to VPS).
3. After confirmation and payment, most changes are applied automatically without interrupting your website.

How to switch to another web hosting provider?

1. Choose a new provider – check performance, price, support, and migration terms.
2. Create a backup of your website – save all files and the database.
3. Transfer files to the new provider – most providers offer free migration assistance.
4. Update DNS records – set up the new servers with your domain registrar.
5. Check your website’s functionality – before canceling the old hosting, ensure the site loads correctly on the new server.

Can you use web hosting without your own domain?

Yes, you can use web hosting without registering your own domain, but this is only a temporary solution and comes with significant limitations. Most hosting providers allow the use of a subdomain under their main domain until you register your own.

How does web hosting work without your own domain?

The provider gives you a subdomain in the format, for example, yourwebsite.providername.com. This allows the site to work and be visible online until you purchase your own domain.

Limitations of hosting without a domain

• Less professional appearance – a subdomain with the provider’s name does not look professional, which is bad for businesses.
• Lower brand recognition – harder to remember than a simple custom domain name.
• Possible functional limitations – some providers restrict email services and other features on subdomains.
• SEO disadvantages – subdomains rarely rank high in search engines.

Why is having your own domain a better choice?

• Gives a professional and trustworthy impression.
• Better brand recognition and improved SEO results.
• Allows the use of professional email addresses (e.g., name@yourdomain.com).

Web hosting is the foundation of every website – from speed and security to professional appearance and visitor trust. When choosing the right hosting, consider the type of website, expected traffic, security features, and provider support.

The right decision will save you time, money, and future problems while ensuring your website runs fast, securely, and reliably.