- Abi Djanogly
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
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Web hosting is the service that makes your website accessible on the internet by storing its files on a server. Before you start making a website, it's a good idea to understand what web hosting is all about.
When someone types your domain name into their browser, the server sends your website's content to their device, allowing them to view your pages. Think of it like renting a space for your business. Just as a physical store needs a location to hold its products and welcome customers, your website needs a digital space to store its text, images and code so visitors can find you online.
Wix hosting keeps your website running smoothly and securely from day one. With reliable performance, strong security and built-in tools for SEO, analytics and marketing, your site is ready to grow without limits. Plus 24/7 support means help is always just a click away.
TL;DR: How does web hosting work?
Short on time? Here’s what you’ll find in this article:
Web hosting involves storing your website's data on a special computer called a server. This server runs continuously to ensure your site is always available. Different types of hosting suit different needs, from shared options for personal blogs to dedicated servers for large enterprises.
Concept | Explanation |
Server | A powerful computer that stores your website files. |
Domain | The address (like www.yoursite.com) that points to your server. |
Browser | The tool (like Chrome or Safari) that retrieves files from the server. |
DNS | The system that connects your domain name to the server's IP address. |
What is web hosting?
Web hosting is the service that makes your website viewable to others on the internet. While a domain name is your address, web hosting is the actual house where your furniture (files, images and HTML code) lives. You can't really have one without the other if you want a functional site.
Think of the internet as a massive city. To open a shop, you need a piece of land to build on. A web hosting provider leases you that land (server space) and ensures the roads (internet connection) leading to your shop are clear. This service is crucial because typical personal computers don't have the power or security to serve website files to thousands of people at once.
Discover more: what is web hosting?
What does a web host do?
A web host does the heavy lifting of managing the hardware so you can focus on building your brand. They maintain the servers, keeping them cool, powered and connected to the internet 24/7. This involves constant monitoring to ensure that if a piece of hardware fails, there are backups in place to keep your site running.
Beyond just keeping the lights on, a web host handles the security of the server itself. They implement firewalls and security protocols to stop cyberattacks before they reach your specific website. They also manage software updates on the server side, ensuring that the technology powering your site is current and compatible with modern web standards.
Learn more about website security.
How does web hosting work?
Web hosting works by storing your website’s files, such as text, images and code, on a powerful server that’s connected to the internet 24/7.
When someone enters your domain name into their browser, the browser sends a request to the server where your site is hosted.
The server then delivers the necessary files back to the visitor’s device, allowing the webpage to load and display correctly.
Behind the scenes, hosting infrastructure ensures your site remains fast, secure and accessible at all times, handling traffic.
Learn more: what is a web server?
Benefits of web hosting
Choosing the right web hosting plan gives you more than just a place to store files. Quality hosting ensures your site performs well, stays secure and can grow with your business.
"A good web hosting should offer: A free SSL certificate, automated and outsourced backups, 24/7 server monitoring, responsive technical support and an infrastructure that's resilient to traffic spikes and attacks. This is the foundation on which everything rests. Never neglect this choice." - Allan Kinic, cybersecurity expert and founder of Prevention-internet.fr
Reliability is key. Good hosting services offer high uptime guarantees, meaning your site is rarely offline. This builds trust with your visitors and ensures you don't miss out on potential opportunities.
Speed is another major factor. Servers optimized for performance can deliver your content faster, which improves user experience and can even help with your search engine rankings. According to a recent study, 47% of consumers expected a website to load in 2 seconds or less and 40% would abandon a website that takes more than 3 seconds to load.
Common challenges of web hosting
While hosting is essential, it comes with potential hurdles. Understanding these challenges can help you choose a web host provider that minimizes headaches down the road.
Security vulnerabilities are a constant concern. If your host doesn't have robust security measures, your site could be exposed to malware or hackers. It's vital to check for features like SSL certificates and regular backups.
Downtime is another issue. Even a few minutes of your site being offline can frustrate visitors. Unexpected traffic spikes can also crash shared servers if resources aren't managed correctly, so reliable hosting really matters. Slow or unstable servers can cause outages and high-impact downtime now costs businesses approximately $2 million per hour, highlighting the financial risk of poor hosting performance.
Learn more: what is an SSL certificate?
Examples of web hosting types
Different websites have different needs, so hosting isn't one-size-fits-all. Here are the most common types you'll encounter.
Shared hosting: Several websites reside on a single server connected to the internet. This is generally the most economical option for hosting, as the overall cost of server maintenance is amortized over many customers.
VPS hosting: Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting mimics a dedicated server environment within a shared server. It's technically still shared hosting, but you get a dedicated chunk of the resources.
Dedicated hosting: You rent an entire physical server for your business. This gives you complete control over the server's configuration and resources, but it comes with a higher price tag and requires technical knowledge.
Cloud hosting: Your site is hosted on a network of connected virtual and physical cloud servers. This offers greater flexibility and scalability, as you can easily increase resources during traffic spikes.
Learn more:
How does web hosting work with Wix website builder?
Reliable hosting ensures your visitors have a great experience every time they click. When you create a website with the Wix website builder, web hosting is included automatically, so there’s no need to connect third-party services or manage technical setup.
Wix offers secure web hosting that’s fully managed, meaning updates, maintenance and performance optimization are handled for you behind the scenes. With secure, scalable web hosting built in from the start, your site can grow seamlessly as traffic increases.
Wix also provides resilient web hosting with 99.99% uptime, helping ensure your website stays online and performs reliably, even during unexpected traffic spikes.
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How does web hosting work FAQ
Do I need web hosting to have a website?
Yes, you do. Without a place to store your website's files (images, code, text), there is nothing for a browser to load. Every website you visit on the internet is hosted on a server somewhere. While you can technically set up your own computer as a server, using a professional hosting provider is far more reliable, secure and easier to manage.
Can I host my own website on my personal computer?
Technically, yes, you can turn your PC into a server. However, it requires significant technical skill to configure the software correctly. Your computer would need to be on 24/7, have a super-fast and stable internet connection and robust security to prevent hacking. For most people, the cost of electricity and hardware maintenance makes professional hosting a much better and cheaper choice.
What is the difference between a domain name and web hosting?
Think of your website as a house. The web hosting is the land underneath the house where the physical structure sits. The domain name is the street address (like 123 Maple Street) that tells people where to find that house. You need both to have a functioning website; the hosting holds your content and the domain name directs visitors to it.
Learn more: domain hosting vs web hosting.
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