Hosting essentials
A practical guide to choosing, launching and maintaining the right home for your website.
What is web hosting?
Web hosting provides server space and computing resources for a website’s files, images, applications and databases. When someone visits, the server processes the request and sends a response to their browser. You do not need to leave your own computer running to keep the site accessible.
Think of your website as a shop: hosting is the premises, while a domain is the address customers use to find it. They work together but are separate services and may have different renewal dates.
Domain, hosting, SSL and email
Domain · Your address
A name such as yourname.com. DNS directs it to the appropriate service. Registering a domain alone does not provide website storage.
Hosting · Your infrastructure
Stores files and runs supported applications, PHP and databases. Website files and email may share storage, depending on the plan.
SSL / TLS · HTTPS
Encrypts data in transit between the browser and server when configured correctly. HTTPS does not eliminate malware or application vulnerabilities.
Email · Your business identity
Addresses such as info@yourname.com can use hosting email or a separate Email Server. Email DNS records must point to the selected provider.
What happens when you open a website?
- Enter a domainThe visitor opens a website address in a browser.
- DNS finds the destinationDNS resolves the name into information used to reach the server.
- The server respondsIt reads files or runs application code and database queries.
- The browser rendersHTML, CSS, JavaScript and images become the visible page.
Performance depends on image sizes, code, plugins, caching, network conditions and server resources. Storage capacity alone does not determine how fast a website feels.
Common hosting options
Shared Hosting
Multiple accounts share a server. The provider manages the core system. Suitable for many standard websites, with plan-specific resource and configuration limits.
VPS
A virtual server with allocated resources and more configuration flexibility. Check whether management is included and whether CPU resources are shared or guaranteed.
Cloud Hosting
Hosting built on cloud infrastructure. Scaling and availability depend on the actual service design; “cloud” does not mean unlimited resources or zero downtime.
Dedicated Server
An entire physical server for your workload. Offers more control but requires a larger budget and a clear plan for administration, security and backups.
A checklist beyond storage size
- Storage: Allow for files, images, databases, email and growth. Confirm which items share the quota.
- Inode limit: The permitted number of file and directory entries. Many small cache, email or backup files can exhaust this quota before disk space runs out.
- Domains: Check website and subdomain allowances. Unlimited domains still operate within the plan’s storage and resource limits.
- Databases and email: Consider both account counts and actual capacity requirements.
- Application compatibility: Check PHP versions and extensions against your CMS, themes, plugins and application.
- CPU, RAM and traffic: Heavy processing or concurrent visitors may require more resources even when storage remains available.
- Backups and support: Ask about backup frequency, retention, restoration, fees and support channels.
Match the plan to your website
For TangmoHosting, start with the number of websites and your workload. Review the current package details before ordering.
Storage for 1–2 domains
Consider Plan A or B, comparing storage, service term and the domain allowance for each option.
Multiple websites
Consider Plans C–F with unlimited domains, while budgeting the combined storage, inodes, databases and email usage.
WordPress or a company site
Check PHP and database compatibility, keep plugins lean, compress images and allow room for updates and backups.
Custom apps or heavier workloads
Discuss VPS resources with the team. Provide software requirements, data volume and estimated concurrent users.
Keep your website secure and maintainable
Good hosting is a foundation, but the application also needs maintenance. Update your CMS, themes and plugins, use unique passwords, enable multi-factor authentication where supported and grant only necessary access.
Use HTTPS and track domain and service renewals. Keep independent copies of website files and databases outside the hosting account, and test restoration. Provider backups should not be your only recovery plan.
Launch your website in five steps
- Choose a domain and check registration availability.
- Select hosting for your websites, capacity and software needs.
- Configure DNS, install your site or migrate existing data.
- Set up HTTPS and email, then test pages and forms on desktop and mobile.
- Schedule backups, software updates and regular resource checks.
Questions & answers
Do I need hosting if I already own a domain?
Yes, you need hosting or a website platform that includes it to publish your files. A domain is the address, not the storage.
Does more storage mean a faster website?
Not necessarily. CPU, RAM, queries, code, caching and file sizes also affect performance.
Do unlimited domains mean unlimited resources?
No. Websites still share the account’s storage, inode and resource allowances.
Can I upgrade or migrate later?
Ask the team to check the destination plan, compatibility and migration steps first. Website, email and database requirements can differ.
Ready to find your hosting?
Compare plans or tell our team what you want to build.