A web host is a service provider that places your web site on a computer which is connected to the internet. This then gives people who surf the internet a way to access your website. The computer that the web hosting company uses is typically just like the computer you have at home, the only difference being that it is set up to serve up web sites and is therefore called a server.
Web hosts usually host thousands of websites, using many servers, and typically have very fast connections to the Internet. Basically, they function by renting out space to users who want users to be able to access their websites through the World Wide Web.
While some large web hosting companies have their own servers, other companies will rent servers from larger companies and sell space on these under their own name. In such cases the web space will actually belong to another much bigger company although the web host you are dealing with will be the one managing your account on the server.
There are different kinds of web-hosting setups and dependent upon your website and budget, any of these may be the right type. Bandwidth is always stated as a monthly limit in either MB or GB. This is the amount of actual data that can be transferred from the web server that holds your website, to the browser of the person who is looking at your website.
If you exceed the set limit, you will end up either paying a fee, or your website will become unavailable. The bandwidth that you use is directly connected to the level of traffic that your site receives.
Unlimited bandwidth for free from certain web hosting companies certainly sounds like an amazing deal which is too good to be true. Indeed, it is too good to be true. These claims amount to bait and switch marketing schemes that one would be well advised to steer clear of. After all, bandwidth costs the web hosting company money. Unlimited bandwidth for free, if true, would therefore cost the web hosting company an infinite amount of money.
Web hosting services consist of providing a server, which is like a computer, but it’s always online, and set-up specifically to be accessed. Generally speaking, they have to be fast, since they host thousands of sites. Similar to an dealing with real estate, they rent out their space to users who need the space. Sometimes you’re going to deal with a big company that owns all their servers, or sometimes you may deal with a smaller entity that rents its servers. There are lots of different plans depending on how you want to use your bandwidth, budgeting concerns, etc.
- Tem Balanco



