What is Web Hosting? What is a Hosting Account?
Web Hosting is a service that provides all required technology needed for a website to be viewed online.
This service enables individuals, businesses and organizations to make their websites accessible via the Internet.
A Web hosting company or Web Host, provides this hosting service.
How Web Hosting Works? What Is Web Hosting Used For?
I will explain it in the most simple way possible. For that, I need to explain the basic terms that becomes part of the web hosting service. Namely Server, Data center, Domain Name, IP address and DNS.
Hang on... It is not complicated. It will be short as well, I promise.
Servers
Websites are placed or "hosted" on special high performance computers known as servers.
Each web host will have it's own Servers. Most popular Web Hosting Companies own multiple servers to cater millions of client websites.
Data Center
Servers are safely kept in highly secure buildings known as Data centers.
A data center provides 24/7 power supply(UPS) and other critical components, such as data communications connections and security devices, all in a fully air conditioned building with fire protection system.
Well trained System Administrators operate these servers.
What is a Domain name?
A domain name or domain is a user friendly label which identifies an Internet site. For example, findbestwebhosting.com is a domain name. In this digital era, a domain name is your unique identity in Internet.
What is an IP Address?
IP(Internet Protocol) address is a unique string of numbers separated by full stops address like 93.144.216.111. Each website has an IP address.
Computers and other network devices on the Internet use IP addresses to recognize websites.
Entire Internet is based on IP addresses.
Domain names are basically easy-to-remember shortcuts to numeric IP addresses.
What is a DNS Server
A Domain Name Server(DNS) is a directory of all Domain names in Internet. And each domain name in DNS is mapped to an IP Address in this directory.
When you buy a domain name, your domain name is automatically added into DNS Server.
So how does Web Hosting and website thing work?
Now that you know the basic definitions, we will see how they all work together.
When you buy a domain name, your domain name is automatically added into DNS Server.
And when you buy a web hosting service, a website IP address is allotted and this website IP address is added to DNS Server and mapped to your domain name.
Now:
When you enter a domain name into your browser(Chrome, Firefox etc), the browser needs to know the numerical IP address of your website. So the browser will search through the DNS system and find the exact IP address of the corresponding website.
Then the browser will find the website using IP address from webhost, get the website content from your webhost and load it so that you can see the website files.
This is how it works!