A webhosting service is a type of internet hosting service that allows individuals and organizations to provide their own website accessible using the WWW or the World Wide Web. Web hosts are companies that provide space on a server they own for use by their clients as well as providing internet connectivity, typically in a data center. Web hosts can also provide data center space and connectivity to the internet for servers they do now own to be located in their data center, called collocation.
The service scope of the hosting service varies widely. The most basic is web page and small-scale file hosting, where files can be uploaded using FTP or the File Transfer Protocol or a Web Interface. The files are usually delivered to the Web or with little processing. Many ISP’s or the Internet Service Providers offer this service free to their subscribers. People can also obtain Web page hosting or website hosting from other, alternative service providers. Personal web site hosting is typically free, advertisement-sponsored or cheap. Business web site hosting often has a higher expense.
The host may also provide an interface or control panel for managing the web server and installing scripts as well as the other services like e-mail. Some hosts specialize in certain software or services. They are common used by larger companies to outsource network infrastructure to a hosting company.
