What It Is
Web hosting is renting space on a server, a powerful computer that runs all day and night in a data center. Your website’s files, images and database live there, and when someone types your domain name, the server sends them your pages. If your domain name is your street address, hosting is the building itself. You need both for people to find you and walk in.
Why It Matters for Your Business
Your host affects how fast your site loads, how often it is online, how secure it is, and who helps when something breaks. A cheap plan can be fine for a simple brochure site, but a busy online store or a booking site needs more resources and better support. The right host for a home bakery may not be the right one for a growing chain.
Good to Know
Look beyond the introductory price. Many hosts offer a low first-year rate that renews much higher. Compare what is included, such as backups, SSL certificates, email and support response times. Make sure you, not your web designer or a past employee, own the hosting account and the domain, so you can always access and move your site.