What is shared hosting
Shared hosting is a web hosting service where multiple websites are hosted on the same physical server, sharing its resources such as CPU, memory, storage, and bandwidth. It’s one of the most affordable and beginner-friendly hosting options, commonly used by small websites, personal blogs, or startups. Here’s how it works:
- Resource Sharing: In shared hosting, multiple websites are placed on a single server, and all share the same pool of resources. If one website uses too many resources (e.g., gets heavy traffic), it can slow down other sites on the server.
- Cost-Efficiency: Since several users share one server, hosting providers can offer shared hosting plans at a lower price. This makes it a budget-friendly option for individuals or small businesses looking to get online without spending much.
- Provider-Managed: The hosting provider takes care of server maintenance, updates, and security, so users don’t need technical expertise to manage the server. This makes shared hosting a hassle-free choice for beginners.
- Limited Control: Users generally don’t have root access or the ability to make deep customizations to the server. Instead, they get access to a control panel (like cPanel or Plesk) to manage their website, email, databases, and other basic functions.
- Best for Small Websites: Shared hosting is ideal for low-traffic websites. It’s perfect for personal blogs, small business sites, or anyone who doesn’t need a lot of server power. However, for high-traffic or resource-intensive sites, an upgrade to VPS or dedicated hosting might be necessary.
Overall, shared hosting offers a low-cost, low-maintenance way to host a website, making it a popular choice for beginners or businesses with modest hosting needs.