Web Hosting Key Terms

Take the confusion out of web hosting lingo

By M. Worcester

Web hosting companies are everywhere; search for one on the Internet and you will receive a list of hundreds, each trying to prove they're the best by listing features that seem to be from another language. Understanding web hosting key terms helps you identify which features you need.

Many of the key terms in this industry relate to popular kinds of web hosting. Web hosting key terms include:

1. A domain name is the web address you type to get to a website; most hosts offer free domain hosting with their web hosting plans.

2. Bandwidth, or traffic, is the amount of data transmitted when users visit your site.

3. Disk space, often confused with bandwidth, is the amount of space taken up by the files that make up your website; you generally need more bandwidth than disk space.

Find web hosting service providers that offer dedicated hosting or reseller plans

Dedicated hosting gives your website its own server, providing you with extra security and resources for a high amount of web traffic. Reseller hosting allows you to sell web hosting services without having to maintain the equipment yourself.
Try: Check out the dedicated server plans at InMotion Hosting. Choose from several reseller plans offered by HostGator.com.

For online storefronts, look for ecommerce web hosting services

Ecommerce web hosts offer a group of applications that allow you to sell multiple items in an online store, such as a shopping cart and merchant accounts which allow you to take payment via credit card. Look for a host that includes excellent support in setting this up.
Try: Consider the multiple eCommerce plans offered by Verio. Choose from two low-cost ecommerce plans at Aplus.net.

Look for professional web hosting that makes it easy to set up a blog

A blog, short for web log, is a popular type of site that allows easy posting of articles and commentary. It facilitates reader interaction with optional comments and subscription options. Look for hosts offering one-click installation of your preferred blogging software.
Try: View the features offered with all accounts at Hostmonster.com, including web blogs, Wordpress and other blogging features. Check out the features included with a basic hosting plan from AN Hosting, including one-click installs for Wordpress, Movable Type and more.

Find the best affordable web hosting service provider

These plans are called affordable, budget or cheap web hosting, and are the least expensive and most limited plans. Check the fine print to see whether "unlimited" truly means unlimited, whether the company includes a domain name, and what other features the host offers. Many low-cost plans bill you quarterly or yearly rather than every month.
Try: Find a low-cost plan with unlimited bandwidth at Globat. Choose from two inexpensive plans that offer unlimited bandwidth and a variable number of included domain names at Just Host.