# HostingFAQ > The plain-text reference for web hosting terms, concepts and errors. Every article opens with a direct answer and ends with FAQs. Language: US English. ## Hosting Basics - [What Is Web Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-web-hosting/): 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. - [What Is PHP Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-php-hosting/): PHP hosting is a plan with the PHP interpreter and extensions installed so PHP sites like WordPress run correctly. Learn versions and setup. - [What Is Node.js Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-nodejs-hosting/): 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. - [What Is Python Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-python-hosting/): Python hosting runs Django, Flask or FastAPI apps through a WSGI or ASGI server behind a web server. Learn the requirements and setup basics. - [What Is Ruby on Rails Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-ruby-on-rails-hosting/): 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. - [What Is Java Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-java-hosting/): Java hosting runs compiled Java applications on a Java Virtual Machine, often through Tomcat or an embedded server. Learn the requirements. - [What Is ASP.NET Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-asp-net-hosting/): ASP.NET hosting runs Microsoft's web framework, usually on Windows Server with IIS and the .NET runtime. Learn requirements and PHP comparison. - [What Is Static Site Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-static-site-hosting/): 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. - [What Is Jamstack Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-jamstack-hosting/): Jamstack hosting serves pre-built markup from a CDN and adds dynamic features through APIs and JavaScript instead of a traditional backend. - [What Is Serverless Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-serverless-hosting/): Serverless hosting runs your code in short-lived functions managed by the provider, billed by usage, with no server for you to maintain. - [What Is Edge Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-edge-hosting/): Edge hosting runs your code or content on servers near each visitor's location instead of one central region, cutting latency. - [Cloud Storage vs. Web Hosting](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-cloud-storage-vs-web-hosting/): 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. - [What Is Object Storage?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-object-storage/): 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. - [What Is S3-Compatible Storage?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-s3-compatible-storage/): 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. - [What Is Colocation Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-colocation-hosting/): 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. - [What Is Hybrid Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-hybrid-hosting/): Hybrid hosting combines a private server, like a VPS or dedicated server, with public cloud resources. Learn common patterns and when it fits. - [What Is Multi-Cloud Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-multi-cloud-hosting/): 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. - [What Is Private Cloud Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-private-cloud-hosting/): Private cloud hosting gives one organization exclusive use of cloud-style infrastructure. Learn how it differs from public cloud, VPS and dedicated servers. - [How to Choose Hosting for a Small Business](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/how-to-choose-hosting-for-a-small-business/): 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 a Blog](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/how-to-choose-hosting-for-a-blog/): 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 an Online Store](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/how-to-choose-hosting-for-an-online-store/): 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. - [What Is Shared Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/shared-hosting-explained/): Shared hosting puts many websites on one server sharing its CPU, RAM and IP. Learn how it works, its limits, and when to upgrade. - [What Is Cloud Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/cloud-hosting-explained/): 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. - [What Is Reseller Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/reseller-hosting-explained/): 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. - [Domain Name vs. Web Hosting](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/domain-vs-hosting/): 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. - [How to Choose a Web Hosting Provider](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/how-to-choose-a-web-hosting-provider/): A practical checklist for choosing a web hosting provider: uptime, support, renewal pricing, resource limits, backups and migration help. - [Free Hosting vs. Paid Hosting](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/free-hosting-vs-paid-hosting/): Free hosting trades cost for limits on storage, ads, support and your own domain. Compare it with paid hosting to see what actually fits. - [What Is an Uptime Guarantee?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/uptime-guarantee-explained/): 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. - [What Does "Unlimited" Hosting Mean?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/unlimited-hosting-meaning/): "Unlimited" hosting plans still run on physical servers with finite resources. Learn what the term really covers and where fair-use limits kick in. - [How to Migrate a Website to a New Host](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/website-migration-to-new-host/): 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. - [cPanel Hosting vs. VPS](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/cpanel-hosting-vs-vps/): 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. - [Hosting Renewal Prices Explained](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/hosting-renewal-prices-explained/): 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 Web Hosting Works, Step by Step](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/how-web-hosting-works-step-by-step/): A step-by-step walkthrough of what happens between typing a URL and a page loading, and where web hosting fits in each step. - [What Is a Hosting Provider?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-a-hosting-provider/): 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. - [What Is a Hosting Account?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-a-hosting-account/): 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. - [What Is a Hosting Plan?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-a-hosting-plan/): 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. - [What Is Bandwidth in Web Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-hosting-bandwidth/): Bandwidth in hosting means how much data your site can send visitors over a period of time. Learn how to estimate what you need. - [What Is Disk Space in Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-disk-space-in-hosting/): 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. - [What Is an Inode Limit?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-an-inode-limit/): 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. - [What Is a CPU Limit in Shared Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-cpu-limit-in-shared-hosting/): 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. - [What Is an Entry Processes Limit?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-entry-processes-limit/): 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. - [What Is RAM in Web Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-ram-in-web-hosting/): 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. - [What Is Unmetered Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-unmetered-hosting/): Unmetered hosting means bandwidth isn't billed per gigabyte below a fair-use threshold, not that traffic has no ceiling at all. - [How to Monitor Website Uptime](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/how-to-monitor-website-uptime/): Learn how uptime monitoring tools check your site, what a check actually tests, and how to set up alerts before visitors notice an outage. - [What Is Website Downtime?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-website-downtime/): 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 Is a Data Center?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-a-data-center/): 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. - [What Is Data Center Redundancy?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-data-center-redundancy/): 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. - [What Is Green Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-green-hosting/): Green hosting runs servers on renewable energy or offsets their carbon output. Learn how it works, what to check, and if it costs more. - [What Is White-Label Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-white-label-hosting/): White-label hosting lets you resell hosting infrastructure under your own brand name. Learn how it works, what you control, and who it suits. - [What Is Linux Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-linux-hosting/): Linux hosting runs your website on a Linux-based server. Learn what software it includes, its cost, and when you would choose it instead. - [What Is Windows Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/what-is-windows-hosting/): Windows hosting runs your site on a Windows Server with IIS. Learn when ASP.NET or SQL Server actually requires it, and typical costs. - [Linux vs. Windows Hosting](https://hostingfaq.org/hosting-basics/linux-vs-windows-hosting/): Compare Linux and Windows hosting on cost, software support, control panels and compatibility to pick the right one for your site. ## Domains & DNS - [What Is DNS (Domain Name System)?](https://hostingfaq.org/domains-dns/what-is-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. - [What Is a Domain Name?](https://hostingfaq.org/domains-dns/what-is-a-domain-name/): 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. ## Web Servers - [What Is a Web Server?](https://hostingfaq.org/web-servers/what-is-a-web-server/): 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. - [Apache vs. Nginx](https://hostingfaq.org/web-servers/apache-vs-nginx/): Compare Apache and Nginx: architecture, performance, .htaccess support and configuration, and when to choose each web server. ## VPS & Cloud - [What Is a VPS (Virtual Private Server)?](https://hostingfaq.org/vps-cloud/what-is-a-vps/): 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. - [Managed vs. Unmanaged VPS Hosting](https://hostingfaq.org/vps-cloud/managed-vs-unmanaged-vps/): Managed VPS hosting means the provider handles server upkeep for you; unmanaged VPS hosting gives you full root control but all the responsibility. ## Dedicated Servers - [What Is a Dedicated Server?](https://hostingfaq.org/dedicated-servers/what-is-a-dedicated-server/): 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. - [RAID Levels Explained](https://hostingfaq.org/dedicated-servers/raid-levels-explained/): 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. ## WordPress Hosting - [What Is Managed WordPress Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/wordpress-hosting/what-is-managed-wordpress-hosting/): Managed WordPress hosting is tuned for WordPress, with caching, updates, backups and security handled for you. Learn features, costs and trade-offs. - [WordPress Hosting Requirements](https://hostingfaq.org/wordpress-hosting/wordpress-hosting-requirements/): WordPress needs a specific PHP version, a MySQL or MariaDB database, enough memory and HTTPS. Check the exact minimums before you choose a host. ## PrestaShop & eCommerce - [PrestaShop Hosting Requirements](https://hostingfaq.org/ecommerce-hosting/prestashop-hosting-requirements/): The server specs, PHP version and database settings a host needs to run PrestaShop reliably, from minimum resources to recommended production setups. - [Magento Hosting Requirements](https://hostingfaq.org/ecommerce-hosting/magento-hosting-requirements/): Magento (Adobe Commerce) needs specific PHP, MySQL, Elasticsearch/OpenSearch and memory settings. See the minimums before choosing a server. ## Email Hosting - [What Is Email Hosting?](https://hostingfaq.org/email-hosting/what-is-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. - [SMTP vs. IMAP vs. POP3](https://hostingfaq.org/email-hosting/smtp-imap-pop3-explained/): 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. ## Security & SSL - [What Is an SSL Certificate?](https://hostingfaq.org/security-ssl/what-is-an-ssl-certificate/): An SSL/TLS certificate encrypts the connection to a website and proves its identity (HTTPS). Learn the types, free options and common SSL errors. - [What Is Let's Encrypt?](https://hostingfaq.org/security-ssl/lets-encrypt-explained/): Let's Encrypt is a free, automated certificate authority that issues 90-day SSL/TLS certificates. Learn how it works, renewal and Certbot setup. ## Performance & CDN - [What Is a CDN (Content Delivery Network)?](https://hostingfaq.org/performance-cdn/what-is-a-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. - [What Is TTFB?](https://hostingfaq.org/performance-cdn/what-is-ttfb/): TTFB measures how long a browser waits for the first byte of a response. See what affects it and how to lower it. ## FTP & File Management - [FTP vs. SFTP vs. FTPS](https://hostingfaq.org/ftp-files/ftp-vs-sftp/): FTP sends passwords unencrypted, while SFTP and FTPS encrypt them. Compare the protocols, ports and clients, and learn which to use for your website. - [What Is SSH Key Authentication?](https://hostingfaq.org/ftp-files/what-is-ssh-key-authentication/): SSH key authentication uses a matched public/private key pair instead of a password to log in to a server securely. ## Networking & IP - [What Is an IP Address?](https://hostingfaq.org/networking-ip/what-is-an-ip-address/): 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](https://hostingfaq.org/networking-ip/ipv4-vs-ipv6/): IPv4 and IPv6 are two versions of the Internet Protocol. Compare address size, format and why IPv6 adoption keeps growing. ## Databases - [What Is MySQL?](https://hostingfaq.org/databases/what-is-mysql/): 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](https://hostingfaq.org/databases/mysql-vs-mariadb/): MariaDB is a MySQL fork that keeps the same SQL syntax. Compare their history, compatibility and differences before choosing. ## Control Panels - [What Is cPanel?](https://hostingfaq.org/control-panels/what-is-cpanel/): cPanel is a web-based control panel for managing hosting accounts: files, domains, email, databases and more, all from one browser dashboard. - [cPanel vs. Plesk](https://hostingfaq.org/control-panels/cpanel-vs-plesk/): cPanel and Plesk both manage hosting accounts from a browser. Compare OS support, interface, features and typical pricing. ## Errors & Troubleshooting - [500 Internal Server Error: Causes and Fixes](https://hostingfaq.org/errors/http-500-internal-server-error/): 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. - [404 Not Found Error: Meaning and Fixes](https://hostingfaq.org/errors/http-404-not-found/): 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. ## Hosting Providers - [How to Compare Hosting Providers](https://hostingfaq.org/providers/how-to-compare-hosting-providers/): A checklist for comparing hosting providers side by side: uptime, support, renewal pricing, resource limits, backups and data center location.