What is website hosting?

"Why do I need website hosting?"

...is a question we hear a lot from new website owners.

What is a domain name?

Your domain name (www.yourcompany.co.uk) is your unique address on the internet which points to your website. 

What is hosting?

In the internet world, a "host" is a computer on the internet that displays (or hosts) your website 24x7. Your domain name points to your host, so everyone who types in www.yourcompany.co.uk sees your website.

Compare this to the non-internet world

Imagine you've just bought a van for your company, let's say a small Peugeot Partner. You get it sign-written and buy a private registration plate "DWD 001". That private reg is like your domain name. It's unique to you and refers only to your company van, in the same way your domain name refers only to your website.

Several years on, and you decide to freshen up your van a bit. You get it sign-written again with a smart new colour scheme, and re-upholster the seats in a different colour. Your private reg still identifies your van, but now your van looks a bit different. This is like having your website smartened up. Your domain name still points to the same website, but the website looks different.

Now, imagine it's 5 years on and you decide you need a new van, a little bigger, so you sell the Peugeot Partner and purchase a Ford Transit. You get it sign-written again. You want to keep your existing private reg, so you switch it from the old van to the new van. Now when anybody looks up the private reg "DWD 001", they see a different van to that several years ago. This is just like asking a different website designer to build you a brand new website. Your domain name stays the same, but it now points to a different website.

Website Hosting

Website hosting is essentially a service that provides the technology and infrastructure needed for your website to be accessible on the internet. When you create a website, you need a place to store all the files, images, and content that make up your site. That's where website hosting comes in.

Think of it this way: when someone wants to visit your website, they type your website address (like www.yourwebsite.com) into their web browser (Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Safari (on iPhones and Macs). The browser then sends a request to a server (which is like a powerful computer) where your website is stored. The server then retrieves the files that make up your website and displays them on the visitor's screen.

So, why is website hosting important? Well, without website hosting, your website wouldn't be accessible to anyone on the internet. It's like trying to invite guests to a party but not having a venue for them to come to. Website hosting ensures that your website is available 24/7, so anyone, anywhere in the world, can visit it at any time.

Choosing the right website hosting provider is crucial because it can affect the speed, security, and reliability of your website. You want to make sure you choose a hosting provider that can handle the amount of traffic your website receives, keeps your site secure from hackers and malware, and offers good customer support in case you run into any issues.

Overall, website hosting is essential for any website owner because it's what makes your website visible and accessible to the world. Without it, your website would be like a house without a foundation – it wouldn't be able to stand up and function properly.

When you choose Deal Web Design for your website hosting needs, you can rest assured that your website will be in good hands. Our state-of-the-art servers are equipped with the latest technology to ensure optimal performance and uptime for your website. We offer scalable hosting solutions to accommodate websites of all sizes, from small business websites to large e-commerce platforms.

Why choose Deal Web Design for your website hosting?

Contact us today to learn more about our website hosting services and find the perfect hosting solution for your website's needs.