What Is a Web Host (And Why Do I Need One)?
What Is a Web Host (And Why Do I Need One)?
I get a lot of blank looks from people when I tell them that I
work for a webhosting company. I've come to expect that.
Chances are that unless you've actually needed the service of a
web host, you've not heard the term much. While webhosting is
the Internet's oldest profession (please don't snicker), it's a
relatively new profession in the larger scheme of history.
In order to understand what a web host does, you first need to
understand what a web site is.
For most people who surf the web, a website is a destination.
The illusion of actually surfing from one location to another on
the Information Highway is a powerful one.
In reality, though, when we surf...we don't go to a
website...the website comes to us.
In essence, a website is nothing more than a collection of
files. Some are .html files, others are images, others are music
files, etc.
A webmaster is a maestro, of sorts, who puts all these files
together into a grouping which we call a web site.
Web sites are incredibly amazing things. They can absolutely
blow our minds at times. Always remember, though, on some level
of your consciousness, that it's just a bunch of files, just
like you can see on your own hard drive by clicking on "My
Computer".
When you go to a website, you're actually sending a request to
the computer where these files are located, and that computer
sends you back the files you've requested. Your browser then
displays those files to you, and you see a website.
So - if it's just a bunch of files on a computer, why can't you
just put your website on your own computer, and let people
request it from there?
Actually, you can. If you have a high bandwidth connection, web
server software, and a little know-how about Internet Protocols,
you can do just that.
Most people, however, find it easier - and cheaper - to hire
someone to do it for them. The companies which do this are
called web hosting companies. There are over 20,000 such
companies. Most are willing to host your website for anywhere
from $4 to $50 per month, depending upon what you need and how
much money you want to spend.