A-Z Glossary of Web Hosting

An A-Z index of every web hosting term, concept and error explained on HostingFAQ. 81 entries so far.

0-9 A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P R S T U V W

0-9

404 Not Found Error: Meaning and Fixes Errors & Troubleshooting
A 404 Not Found error means the server works but cannot find the requested page. Learn the causes, how to fix 404s, redirects and the SEO impact.
500 Internal Server Error: Causes and Fixes Errors & Troubleshooting
A 500 Internal Server Error means the server hit an unexpected problem. Learn the common causes and a step-by-step fix, including for WordPress.

A

Apache vs. Nginx Web Servers
Compare Apache and Nginx: architecture, performance, .htaccess support and configuration, and when to choose each web server.
ASP.NET Hosting Hosting Basics
ASP.NET hosting runs Microsoft's web framework, usually on Windows Server with IIS and the .NET runtime. Learn requirements and PHP comparison.

B

Bandwidth in Web Hosting Hosting Basics
Bandwidth in hosting means how much data your site can send visitors over a period of time. Learn how to estimate what you need.

C

CDN (Content Delivery Network) Performance & CDN
A CDN keeps copies of your site's files on servers worldwide so pages load faster. Learn how a CDN works, what it caches and if you need one.
Cloud Hosting Hosting Basics
Cloud hosting spreads a site across a pool of servers so resources scale on demand and one machine failing doesn't take the site down.
Cloud Storage vs. Web Hosting Hosting Basics
Cloud storage keeps files for later retrieval while web hosting runs a live website that answers visitor requests. Learn how they differ and work together.
Colocation Hosting Hosting Basics
Colocation hosting means you own the server hardware and rent rack space, power and network from a data center. Learn how it works and what it costs.
cPanel Control Panels
cPanel is a web-based control panel for managing hosting accounts: files, domains, email, databases and more, all from one browser dashboard.
cPanel Hosting vs. VPS Hosting Basics
cPanel hosting is a managed shared plan built around a control panel, while a VPS is a resource tier that can run cPanel too. Compare both.
cPanel vs. Plesk Control Panels
cPanel and Plesk both manage hosting accounts from a browser. Compare OS support, interface, features and typical pricing.
CPU Limit in Shared Hosting Hosting Basics
A CPU limit in shared hosting caps how much processor time one account can use at once. Learn how it's enforced and how to avoid hitting it.

D

Data Center Hosting Basics
A data center is a purpose-built facility that houses servers, network equipment, power and cooling for websites and apps. Here's what's inside one.
Data Center Redundancy Hosting Basics
Data center redundancy means duplicating power, cooling and network paths so one failure doesn't take the facility down. N, N+1 and 2N explained.
Dedicated Server Dedicated Servers
A dedicated server is a whole physical machine rented to one customer. Learn how it differs from a VPS, typical hardware and when you need one.
Disk Space in Hosting Hosting Basics
Disk space in hosting is your account's total storage allowance for files, databases and email. Learn what counts toward it and how to free up room.
DNS (Domain Name System) Domains & DNS
DNS translates domain names like example.com into IP addresses. Learn how a DNS lookup works, the main record types and how long propagation takes.
Domain Name Domains & DNS
A domain name is the human-readable address of a website, like example.com, that maps to a numeric IP address so browsers can find it.
Domain Name vs. Web Hosting Hosting Basics
A domain name is your site's address; web hosting is the storage and server that runs it. Learn why you usually need both, from different or the same company.

E

Edge Hosting Hosting Basics
Edge hosting runs your code or content on servers near each visitor's location instead of one central region, cutting latency.
Email Hosting Email Hosting
Email hosting is a service that runs mail servers for sending, receiving and storing email on your own domain. Learn how it works and your options.
Entry Processes Limit Hosting Basics
An entry processes limit caps how many requests your hosting account can run at the same instant. Learn why it exists and how to avoid hitting it.

F

Free Hosting vs. Paid Hosting Hosting Basics
Free hosting trades cost for limits on storage, ads, support and your own domain. Compare it with paid hosting to see what actually fits.
FTP vs. SFTP vs. FTPS FTP & File Management
FTP sends passwords unencrypted, while SFTP and FTPS encrypt them. Compare the protocols, ports and clients, and learn which to use for your website.

G

Green Hosting Hosting Basics
Green hosting runs servers on renewable energy or offsets their carbon output. Learn how it works, what to check, and if it costs more.

H

Hosting Account Hosting Basics
A hosting account is your personal login and allotment of resources on a host's server. Learn what it includes and how to manage it.
Hosting Plan Hosting Basics
A hosting plan is the specific package of resources, features and price a host sells. Learn what differs between plan tiers and how to pick one.
Hosting Provider Hosting Basics
A hosting provider is the company that owns or manages the servers your website runs on. Learn its role and the main types of providers.
Hosting Renewal Prices Explained Hosting Basics
Hosting plans often renew at a much higher price than the first-term offer. Learn why, how big the jump typically is, and how to avoid surprises.
How to Choose a Web Hosting Provider Hosting Basics
A practical checklist for choosing a web hosting provider: uptime, support, renewal pricing, resource limits, backups and migration help.
How to Choose Hosting for a Blog Hosting Basics
A blog rarely needs powerful hosting. Learn what actually matters: caching, storage for images, backups and an easy upgrade path as readership grows.
How to Choose Hosting for a Small Business Hosting Basics
A small business website needs reliable uptime, support and room to grow more than raw power. Here is what to check before choosing a plan.
How to Choose Hosting for an Online Store Hosting Basics
An online store needs more than a regular website: SSL, uptime during sales, checkout reliability and room for traffic spikes. Here is what to check.
How to Compare Hosting Providers Hosting Providers
A checklist for comparing hosting providers side by side: uptime, support, renewal pricing, resource limits, backups and data center location.
How to Migrate a Website to a New Host Hosting Basics
A website migration moves your files, database, email and DNS to a new host. Follow these steps to switch providers without taking your site offline.
How to Monitor Website Uptime Hosting Basics
Learn how uptime monitoring tools check your site, what a check actually tests, and how to set up alerts before visitors notice an outage.
How Web Hosting Works, Step by Step Hosting Basics
A step-by-step walkthrough of what happens between typing a URL and a page loading, and where web hosting fits in each step.
Hybrid Hosting Hosting Basics
Hybrid hosting combines a private server, like a VPS or dedicated server, with public cloud resources. Learn common patterns and when it fits.

I

Inode Limit Hosting Basics
An inode limit caps the total files and folders in a hosting account, regardless of their size. Learn what counts and how to check your usage.
IP Address Networking & IP
An IP address identifies a device or server on a network. Learn IPv4 vs IPv6, public vs private, static vs dynamic and dedicated IPs for hosting.
IPv4 vs. IPv6 Networking & IP
IPv4 and IPv6 are two versions of the Internet Protocol. Compare address size, format and why IPv6 adoption keeps growing.

J

Jamstack Hosting Hosting Basics
Jamstack hosting serves pre-built markup from a CDN and adds dynamic features through APIs and JavaScript instead of a traditional backend.
Java Hosting Hosting Basics
Java hosting runs compiled Java applications on a Java Virtual Machine, often through Tomcat or an embedded server. Learn the requirements.

L

Let's Encrypt Security & SSL
Let's Encrypt is a free, automated certificate authority that issues 90-day SSL/TLS certificates. Learn how it works, renewal and Certbot setup.
Linux Hosting Hosting Basics
Linux hosting runs your website on a Linux-based server. Learn what software it includes, its cost, and when you would choose it instead.
Linux vs. Windows Hosting Hosting Basics
Compare Linux and Windows hosting on cost, software support, control panels and compatibility to pick the right one for your site.

M

Magento Hosting Requirements PrestaShop & eCommerce
Magento (Adobe Commerce) needs specific PHP, MySQL, Elasticsearch/OpenSearch and memory settings. See the minimums before choosing a server.
Managed vs. Unmanaged VPS Hosting VPS & Cloud
Managed VPS hosting means the provider handles server upkeep for you; unmanaged VPS hosting gives you full root control but all the responsibility.
Managed WordPress Hosting WordPress Hosting
Managed WordPress hosting is tuned for WordPress, with caching, updates, backups and security handled for you. Learn features, costs and trade-offs.
Multi-Cloud Hosting Hosting Basics
Multi-cloud hosting spreads a site or app across more than one public cloud provider. Learn why companies do it, and the trade-offs involved.
MySQL Databases
MySQL is an open-source relational database that stores and organizes website data in tables. How it works and why so many hosting plans include it.
MySQL vs. MariaDB Databases
MariaDB is a MySQL fork that keeps the same SQL syntax. Compare their history, compatibility and differences before choosing.

N

Node.js Hosting Hosting Basics
Node.js hosting runs a persistent Node process instead of executing scripts per request. Learn how it differs from PHP hosting and what you need.

O

Object Storage Hosting Basics
Object storage saves files as objects with metadata inside flat buckets instead of folders. Learn how it works and when it fits a website's needs.

P

PHP Hosting Hosting Basics
PHP hosting is a plan with the PHP interpreter and extensions installed so PHP sites like WordPress run correctly. Learn versions and setup.
PrestaShop Hosting Requirements PrestaShop & eCommerce
The server specs, PHP version and database settings a host needs to run PrestaShop reliably, from minimum resources to recommended production setups.
Private Cloud Hosting Hosting Basics
Private cloud hosting gives one organization exclusive use of cloud-style infrastructure. Learn how it differs from public cloud, VPS and dedicated servers.
Python Hosting Hosting Basics
Python hosting runs Django, Flask or FastAPI apps through a WSGI or ASGI server behind a web server. Learn the requirements and setup basics.

R

RAID Levels Explained Dedicated Servers
RAID combines several drives into one unit for speed, redundancy or both. Compare RAID 0, 1, 5, 6 and 10 and how each handles a failed disk.
RAM in Web Hosting Hosting Basics
RAM in web hosting is the memory available to run your site's active processes. Learn how it differs from disk space and typical plan amounts.
Reseller Hosting Hosting Basics
Reseller hosting lets you buy server capacity in bulk and resell it as your own branded hosting plans. Learn how it works and what it costs.
Ruby on Rails Hosting Hosting Basics
Ruby on Rails hosting runs a Rails app server like Puma behind a reverse proxy, with Ruby, Bundler and a database installed. Learn what it needs.

S

S3-Compatible Storage Hosting Basics
S3-compatible storage speaks the same API as Amazon S3, so S3 tools and code work with other providers too. Learn how it works and why it matters.
Serverless Hosting Hosting Basics
Serverless hosting runs your code in short-lived functions managed by the provider, billed by usage, with no server for you to maintain.
Shared Hosting Hosting Basics
Shared hosting puts many websites on one server sharing its CPU, RAM and IP. Learn how it works, its limits, and when to upgrade.
SMTP vs. IMAP vs. POP3 Email Hosting
SMTP sends email, while IMAP and POP3 retrieve it. Learn what each protocol does, their default ports, and which one to pick in a mail client.
SSH Key Authentication FTP & File Management
SSH key authentication uses a matched public/private key pair instead of a password to log in to a server securely.
SSL Certificate Security & SSL
An SSL/TLS certificate encrypts the connection to a website and proves its identity (HTTPS). Learn the types, free options and common SSL errors.
Static Site Hosting Hosting Basics
Static site hosting serves pre-built HTML, CSS and JS files with no server-side processing. Learn how it works, its limits and when it fits.

T

TTFB Performance & CDN
TTFB measures how long a browser waits for the first byte of a response. See what affects it and how to lower it.

U

Unmetered Hosting Hosting Basics
Unmetered hosting means bandwidth isn't billed per gigabyte below a fair-use threshold, not that traffic has no ceiling at all.
Uptime Guarantee Hosting Basics
An uptime guarantee is a hosting provider's promise about how often your site stays online, backed by a service credit if it falls short.

V

VPS (Virtual Private Server) VPS & Cloud
A VPS is a virtual machine with its own reserved resources and root access. Learn how it works, VPS vs shared hosting, and managed vs unmanaged plans.

W

Web Hosting Hosting Basics
Web hosting is a service that stores your website files on an always-on server so anyone can open them in a browser. Learn the types, how it works and what it costs.
Web Server Web Servers
A web server is software, and the machine running it, that answers browser requests with web pages and files. Learn how it works and the main options.
Website Downtime Hosting Basics
Website downtime is any period a site is unreachable or broken for visitors. Learn planned vs unplanned downtime, common causes and how to reduce it.
What Does "Unlimited" Hosting Mean Hosting Basics
"Unlimited" hosting plans still run on physical servers with finite resources. Learn what the term really covers and where fair-use limits kick in.
White-Label Hosting Hosting Basics
White-label hosting lets you resell hosting infrastructure under your own brand name. Learn how it works, what you control, and who it suits.
Windows Hosting Hosting Basics
Windows hosting runs your site on a Windows Server with IIS. Learn when ASP.NET or SQL Server actually requires it, and typical costs.
WordPress Hosting Requirements WordPress Hosting
WordPress needs a specific PHP version, a MySQL or MariaDB database, enough memory and HTTPS. Check the exact minimums before you choose a host.