Editing Web hosting service (section)

{{short description|Service for hosting websites}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
[[File:Paris servers DSC00190.jpg|thumb|An example of [[rack mounted]] servers]]
{{Internet hosting}}

A '''web hosting service''' is a type of [[Internet hosting service]] that hosts [[websites]] for clients, i.e. it offers the facilities required for them to create and maintain a site and makes it accessible on the [[World Wide Web]]. Companies providing web hosting services are sometimes called ''web hosts''.

Typically, web hosting requires the following:
* one or more [[server (computing)|server]]s to act as the [[Host (network)|host(s)]] for the sites; servers may be physical or [[hardware virtualization|virtual]];
* [[colocation centre|colocation]] for the server(s), providing physical space, electricity, and [[Internet]] connectivity;
* [[Domain Name System]] configuration to define name(s) for the sites and point them to the hosting server(s);
* a [[web server]] running on the host;
* for each site hosted on the server:
** space on the server(s) to hold the files making up the site;
** site-specific configuration;
** often, a [[database]];
** software and [[credential]]s allowing the client to access these, enabling them to create, configure, and modify the site;
** [[email]] connectivity allowing the host and site to send email to the client.