If you've ever wondered what you're actually paying for when you buy "hosting," here's the plain-English version.
The basic idea
A website is just a collection of files — HTML, images, code, databases — that need to live on a computer that's connected to the internet 24/7 so they can be delivered to anyone who visits. Web hosting is that computer (a server) plus the software, storage, network connection, and support that keeps your site available, fast, and secure.
Domain vs. hosting: two different things
A domain name (like yourbusiness.com) and web hosting are often confused, but they do different jobs. Your domain is the address people type in; your hosting is the actual building where your website lives. When someone visits your domain, it points them to the server where your hosting is running. You need both, and they don't have to be with the same provider — though keeping them together, as with Tsop Tech, tends to make management simpler.
What's typically included
- Storage space for your website files, images, and databases
- Bandwidth, the amount of data that can be transferred as visitors load your pages
- Email hosting, so you can have addresses like [email protected]
- Security features such as SSL certificates, firewalls, and malware scanning
- Backups, so your site can be restored if something goes wrong
Why the type of hosting matters
Not every website needs the same amount of server resources. A small brochure site and a busy online store have very different needs, which is why hosting comes in different tiers — shared, VPS, and dedicated being the most common. See our article comparing them to figure out which fits your situation.
Questions?
If you're not sure what plan is right for your website, open a support ticket and tell us what you're building — we're happy to point you in the right direction.
