Hosting - is the service post your site on the server.

Server - is a computer, which uses its resources to the overall enjoyment of other computers. Referring to the hosting of the server understands constantly working computer, which is connected to the Internet. The server located sites (HTML pages, images and other elements sites).

As a server, and you can use your home PC, but that would be a bad server.

Here is the why the home computer will be good.

First. You will be difficult to ensure continued smooth operation of this machine. If his disabling least for a moment, then at that point, your site will cease to be available to visitors. Your site can visit any man of peace, but it must operate the server where the site is hosted. But you can hardly be confident in the reliability of the electricity network, and physical security of the computer. This same server, which is at the heart of being protected from the date of such coincidences. Access restricted to the server people, insured autonomous power supply generators themselves are of particular server designed that replacement units could be carried out as quickly as possible.

Second. You can not provide at home needed a channel of communication to the Internet. Even if you have excellent speed Internet access, this will not be sufficient for fast downloads of your site other people. Do your providers other customers to your site will be loaded immediately (because it will be almost LAN), but the customer of another ISP, or just visitors to the site from another city, will be waiting a very long download site. These servers are connected to the same channels largest providers of high capacity communications.

Third. The server must run special software, which allows to respond to incoming requests pages on the site, take, store and send mail, working with databases (such as MySQL). To ensure a successful and safe operation must constantly deal with this, that it is difficult for laymen and unreasonable.

Finally, the fourth. You will never be able to provide round-the-clock services for the computer, because physically not be able to pay him 24 hours a day.

Generally, the successful work of your site is not possible without reliable server. In any case, you need to use the services of any hosting. But hosting may be different.

Aside from the usual hosting reseller hosting there - its when you get a lot more opportunities and resources, can create hosting accounts, many sites run, and even resell hosting. Now there are companies that are involved directly reselling hosting. Hosting resellers cheaper conventional, because in fact a wholesaler proposal.

To date, under the hosting often understand much more than just hosting. Hosts provide a set of services that enhance the site and its owner.

Sites may consist not only of HTML pages and graphics, but also include scripts in a variety of languages (PHP, SSI, Perl, Python, Parser, etc.). There are services such as Cron - starting scripts on schedule, statistics, are increasingly offered predefined scripts. Todays hosting services include a full set of features for mail (including spam filters, anti-virus, forwarding, etc.).

As mentioned above, there are resellers hosting, which includes many more opportunities than usual hosting.

Now hosting - highly competitive business, which is in a position to meet the demands of their customers. But never let us not forget that hosting is not absolutely reliable and uninterruptible service.