Web Hosting Services
A web hosting service is a type of Internet hosting service that allows individuals and organizations to make their website accessible via the World Wide Web. Web hosts are companies that provide space on a server owned or leased for use by clients, as well as providing Internet connectivity, typically in a data center. Web hosts can also provide data center space and connectivity to the Internet for other servers located in their data center, called colocation, also known as Housing in Latin America or France.
The scope of web hosting services varies greatly. The most basic is web page and small-scale file hosting, where files can be uploaded via File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or a Web interface. The files are usually delivered to the Web "as is" or with minimal processing. Many Internet service providers (ISPs) offer this service free to subscribers. Individuals and organizations may also obtain Web page hosting from alternative service providers. Personal web site hosting is typically free, advertisement-sponsored, or inexpensive. Business web site hosting often has a higher expense.
Single page hosting is generally sufficient for personal web pages. A complex site calls for a more comprehensive package that provides database support and application development platforms (e.g. PHP, Java, Ruby on Rails, ColdFusion, or ASP.NET). These facilities allow customers to write or install scripts for applications like forums and content management. Also, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is typically used for e-commerce.
The host may also provide an interface or control panel for managing the Web server and installing scripts, as well as other modules and service applications like e-mail. Some hosts specialize in certain software or services (e.g. e-commerce), which are commonly used by larger companies that outsource network infrastructure. -- Wikipedia.
Every website has it's contents, the things that you are trying to say and display to your local market or the general public. Those contents have to be stored and organized on a hard drive, somewhere in the Internet world, that is accessible to everyone that is trying to find and use it, anytime, night or day. 24 / 7 / 365.
Web Hosting Companies provide those services. They make the hard drive storage space available, provide and place organizing systems for your content in that space and make your content accessible via the WWW to whomever wants to utilize it, anywhere, anytime. This storage space and contents are organized utilizing your domain name so that your community can find what they need from your website.
Web hosting packages range widely in cost depending upon your website size, security needs and the potential traffic that your website needs to service. Simple websites with minimal traffic would cost around $ 10 and under per month. A decent sized business website, maybe $ 10 to $ 30 per month. And even larger, obviously more cost. Payment periods and contract lengths also vary between companies. Packages can also be upgraded or expanded as your business grows and your needs change.
Most Web Hosting Services Companies are also Domain Name Registrars that offer solutions in a package for complete website publishing onto the Internet.
It is not necessary that the Domain Name Registrar and the Web Hosting Services Company be the same entity. There are two schools of thought here. One suggests that an entity use a single company for both their Domain Name Registrar and Web Hosting, because if problems arise, and there can be problems, only one customer service department need be contacted for the solution. The other says that putting ones eggs, all in one basket, is inherently a problem, and these services should be separated. An entity must weigh the pros and cons each way and decide for themselves their appropriate direction here.
The Top US Web Hosts
Web Host |
Web Host URL
|
HQ Location |
Domains( in Millions ) |
Source -- as of 3/30/2016 -- www.webhosting.info |
|||
Go Daddy |
godaddy.com |
Scottsdale, Arizona |
39.5 |
1&1 Internet |
1and1.com |
Montabaur, Germany |
4.9 |
HostGator |
hostgator.com |
Houston, Texas |
3.1 |
Bluehost |
bluehost.com |
Provo, Utah |
3.0 |
Network Solutions |
networksolutions.com |
Jacksonville, Florida |
2.3 |
These are just the top US web hosts who service over 2 million domains. There are hundreds of companies that provide these services, all over the world. Please feel free to ask around and / or do your own research into these services businesses.
Web Hosting Services
RE: has an affiliation with 8 Domain Name Registrars / Web Hosting Services Companies and their advertising banners are shown on this website page. They are HostGator, Bluehost, SiteGround, Network Solutions, Register, 1 & 1, InMotion and Go Daddy. You can link to them directly through these banner advertisements with a simple click.
5 of these companies were our finalists for registering / hosting the RE: website. At the time, we obtained our best deal from HostGator, but we would have contracted with any of these companies as we think they were the best for our given situation.
It's All About Uptime !
RE:'s current uptime with HostGator can be accessed here, as obviously, uptime is of critical importance to your sucessful website, just as it is with ours. We have our website checked every 1 minutes, 24/7/365, utilizing FreeSiteStatus. We are notified by email if our website goes down for any significant time. We want to know that our web host is providing us with great service.
This RE: website has had an uptime of 99.779 % with HostGator, from 1/1/2013 to 12/31/2013. We believe that is awesome service. We really think HostGator is the best of the best, and for more reasons than just this.
But, there are literally thousands of companies that provide these services. Please feel free to ask around and / or do your own research into these services businesses.
RE: has had clients utilizing the services of HostGator, Bluehost, Network Solutions, 1 & 1, Register & GoDaddy.
RE: remains ready to help you in researching a web hosting package to meet your requirements. Again, like the domain name, you, the website owner, should enter into your own contract with the web hosting services company. Again, this is far to important to trust to anyone else. Please contact RE: with any questions or troubles that you may have.