In other words, it is a service of providing space for the storage of information, images, files and other content onto servers which can be accessed by others through the World Wide Web sites.

This service is usually provided by a company or an institution called Internet Service Provider (ISP) or Hosting Service Provider (HSP) where they station their physical servers in a temperature controlled surroundings and permanently connected to the internet by using available data lines.

Besides providing storage space, these companies or institutions also extends their services to installation, 24/7 maintenance and repair of the internet connection.

Types Of Basic Web Hosting :

1. Shared or Virtual Web Hosting

This type of web hosting service is the most commonly used by the internet user where your domain name is registered onto one server. This server is shared in terms of resources (ie. CPU time, Operating System, RAM, applications, bandwidth) by other clients of your ISP or HSP.

Advantages

The lowest cost for registration of your domain name since your ISP or HSP host numbers of client onto one server, they are able to reduce the cost of maintaining the server and pass the saving to you.

Suitable for small and medium websites with average traffic. Please check with your ISP or HSP terms of service for the definition of "average traffic" because different ISP or HSP has different benchmark.

Disadvantages

Not able to manage the activities of the server but still able to manage your website activities. Not able to install new software of your own choice (imposed by your ISP or HSP) since it might distract or distort their other applications which is shared by other clients.

Can not expect constant high rate of uptime for your website (such as inconsistent website). Traffic volume, database and software support restriction might be imposed by your ISP or HSP. Please check with your ISP or HSP terms of hosting service. Server instability (such as : inconsistent amount of access to the resources) due to number of users is using it. Your website is "open" for somebody to hacker in since everybody has access to the resources.

2. Virtual Private Server Web Hosting or Virtual Dedicated Server Web Hosting

This type of web hosting service is in between the shared and dedicated web hosting service. The features provided will be the same as shared or virtual web hosting service (ie. sharing the resources) however, all these features are allocated in such away so that certain percentage of these resources are for you and only for you to be used.

In other words, these allocated resources will always be available for you to be used. The percentage of the resources allocation is determined by your agreement with your ISP or HSP.

Advantages

It might not be the lowest cost for registration of your domain name however it is the most cost effective one since you are able to access to resources allocated for you and only for you to be used. More stable server activities. More secure and consistent since it is fed by the same amount of resources.

Disadvantages

Sometimes ISP or HSP advertise their storage space over than their actual server storage capability in the hope that users will not use up all their storage space.

This trick might create problem for this particular type of web hosting service because users in the realm of expectation will use resources up to the maximum available for them and a shortage of resources can cause problem for all users of that particular server.

Please make sure that your ISP or HSP guarantees the storage space availability which is already allocated for you.

3. Free Web Hosting

As the name already described itself, this type of web hosting service is free of charge. It is suitable for small site with low traffic as a test platform or an experiment.

Advantages

It is FREE.

Disadvantages

1.Limited web space and other restrictions imposed by the ISP or HSP.

2.Limited database and technical support.

3.The web site might be bombarded with banners, popups, inline ads, flash advertising and other sort of advertising campaign generated by the ISP or HSP in order to off-set the cost of maintaining the server.

4.You might not be able to use your own domain name but the one already set by your ISP or HSP which sometimes hard to type, hard to remember and not professional.

Types Of Advance Web Hosting

1. Dedicated Web Hosting

This web hosting service is exactly the opposite of the shared or virtual web hosting. It allows you to have an exclusive use of the server (ie. total 100% usage).

Advantages

With all resources (ie. CPU time, Operating System, RAM, applications and bandwidth) concentrated for you, it makes you able to:

1. Manage the activities of the server.

2. Perform complex and customized applications which require intensive and constant usage of the resources.

3. Run websites especially those with large traffic volume.

4. It have a more secure line since no one have access to the resources.

5. Install any software that suits your application.

6. Server stability (ie. consistent amount of access to the resources) because no other users is using it.

Disadvantages

With all resources (ie. CPU time, Operating System, RAM, applications and bandwidth) concentrated for your exclusive usage, it makes your set up fees and all other on going higher than those two web hosting services mentioned above.

Since this web hosting service is more sophisticated therefore, it is difficult to operate and requires the users to have higher knowledge of software application in order to manage daily basis operation of the resources of the server, server maintenance and system administration.

2. Managed Web Hosting

This web hosting service is the high end of all webs hosting service available in the market in terms of features. It is not only providing you with server and its recourses but also the daily basis operation of the resources of the server, server maintenance and system administration.

In other words, managed web hosting service is the evolution of the dedicated web hosting where the server support is provided by your ISP or HSP.

Advantages

It provides the benefits of a dedicated web hosting. You have to make sure your ISP or HSP will have their technical support staff stand by 24/7. It is a hands-off solution for you.

Disadvantages

It is the high end of all webs hosting service available in the market in terms of features, the price for this particular type of web hosting will be the most expensive to operate.

3. Server Co-Location Web Hosting

This web hosting service provides you with infrastructure where you can station your own custom build server at the ISP or HSP of your choice. The ISP or HSP will in turn connect your server into their network and data centre.

Advantages

It provides you with more flexibility and control in terms of the server operation and its resources.

Disadvantages

Since this is also another high end of all webs hosting service available in the market in terms of features, the price for this particular type of web hosting is also expensive to operate.

Requires the users to have higher knowledge of software application since your ISP or HSP only monitor and manage your system, but any problems occur will have to be dealt by the users themselves unless there are prior maintenance agreements (ie. extra costs).

3. Reseller Web Hosting

This web hosting is provided by ISP or HSP so that you can make an arrangement with them to sell their services under your own brand. It can be based on per sign-ups where you sell their hosting packages and pay them fees upon the registration of your customer's domain name or per storage space where you have already bought a chuck block of space from them and sell it to your customer. It is particularly useful if you are interested in e-commerce.

Advantages

It allows you as a user to generate an income. It is also can be offered in conjunction with web design service so your clients will have complete package of the services at a lower cost.

Disadvantages

Constantly monitor and support your client.

How To Choose The Right Web Hosting For Me?

Now, having read all the description of those web hosting services available in the market, your decision to choose one of them will depend on:

1. Budget.

2. For business or private use.

3. Traffic volume of your web site.

4. Storage space needed for your web site.

5. Level of control and security you'd prefer for your web site.

6. Level of resources allowable by your ISP or HSP to be used.

7. Number of applications or software needed to run your web site.