I know the jargons of web hosting can be very complicated, especially for beginners who want to launch a website or their businesses online, with this you have nothing to worry about, as we are here to help you with that. Imagine having a dictionary made specially for web hosting.
Web Hosting Terms (A-Z)
A
Apache
Apache is a very popular open-source web server software widely used for hosting websites. It is officially called the Apache HTTP server. It is developed by the Apache software foundation. Apache is like a chef in the kitchen that receives orders (browser requests), prepares the dishes (web pages), and sends them back to the customers (users).
API (Application Programming Interface):
These are set of tools and protocols that allows software applications to communicate with each other.
API acts as a messenger that enables one program to send requests and receive responses from another program. It is like a power adapter that connects your phone to electricity.
Autoscaling
This is a feature that helps to automatically adjust server resources like CPU, bandwidth, and storage according to the demand of your website. Autoscaling expands and contracts resources to handle traffic fluctuation.
During traffic spikes, it expands resources to handle more, while during low traffic, it contracts resources to save cost.
Access Logs
An access log is a file that records all requests made to a web server. It provides detailed information about each request, such as:
IP Address,Timestamp Request Details, HTTP Status Code
Imagine owning a store and keeping a notebook where every visitor writes down their name, time of visit, and items they checked. Similarly, an access log serves as your server’s “visitor logbook.”
Active Directory
Active Directory is a folder system developed by Microsoft used for managing users, computers, and other resources within a network. It allows centralized control and secure access to network resources in an organization.
Think of Active Directory as a filing cabinet for a company:
- Each drawer represents a department (e.g., HR, IT).
- Each file folder represents a user or computer.
- Administrators decide who gets keys (permissions) to access specific drawers or folders.
B
Bandwidth
In web hosting, bandwidth is the amount of data transferred between your website and visitors over a specific period. It is measured in gigabytes (GB) or terabytes (TB).
Bandwidth is like the road; it has a particular number of cars it can take up at a particular time without car traffic occurring. a wider road (more bandwidth) and can allow many cars (data), a narrow road (low bandwidth) and needs fewer cars or else there will be traffic jams.
Burstable Bandwidth
This refers to a hosting plan feature where you are allowed to temporarily exceed your allocated bandwidth limit to handle unexpected traffic spikes. This is used for websites that experience sudden traffic, such as during promotions or viral events.
Backup
This is the process of creating copies of website data, files, databases, and configurations. This backup is stored in order to restore files that might get lost due to a cyberattack or data loss.
Bot
This is an automated software program designed to perform tasks online, such as indexing websites or monitoring uptime. They operate without human intervention; it is both beneficial and malicious.
BGP (Border Gateway Protocol)
This is the protocol used to exchange routing information between different networks on the internet. It determines the most efficient paths for data to travel from one network to another.
Imagine a delivery network with multiple warehouses. BGP works like a central dispatcher, choosing the fastest and most reliable route to deliver packages from one warehouse to another, ensuring smooth and efficient deliveries across a complex network.
Byte
Bytes are the fundamental unit of measurement for your website’s storage space and bandwidth usage in web hosting.
C
Cache:
This is the temporary storage mechanism that stores frequently accessed files or data to speed up processing and reduce resource usage. In web hosting, caching helps websites load faster by saving copies of static files or data closer to the user or server.
Imagine you frequently visit a library to borrow the same book. Instead of retrieving it from the shelf every time, the librarian places a copy at the front desk for quicker access. Similarly, caching saves commonly used data closer to where it’s needed, reducing the time it takes to retrieve it.
cPanel
cPanel is a popular control panel used by hosting providers to help their clients manage their hosting accounts and servers without coding or much technical knowledge.
Think of cPanel as the dashboard for your website. Instead of opening the car’s hood (server) and manually tweaking parts (coding), you use the dashboard buttons to control everything, like turning on headlights (email setup) or adjusting the AC (file management).
Cloud Hosting
This is a type of hosting that uses multiple servers to host one website in order to maximize uptime and fast loading. To know more about cloud hosting, this comprehensive guide on cloud hosting will help you with it.
Content Delivery Network (CDN)
This is a system of distributed servers located in multiple regions worldwide, designed to deliver web content to users more efficiently and quickly. Instead of fetching data from the origin server every time, the CDN stores cached versions of content like images, videos, scripts, and stylesheets in multiple locations.
Imagine you’re in Nigeria and want to access a website hosted in the U.S. Without a CDN, your browser retrieves all data from the U.S., which takes time. With a CDN, the website’s content is cached on a server in Africa, allowing quicker delivery since the server is geographically closer.
Cron Job
Cron Job is like a scheduled task or reminder for your computer. You can use Cron to schedule any task that your computer can perform.
Imagine you have a chore you need to do every day, like watering your plants. Instead of remembering to do it manually, you could set an alarm on your phone to remind you. A Cron Job is like that alarm for your computer.
D
Database
A database is an organized collection of data that is stored and managed electronically. This is like the brain in a website; it stores essential information such as user details, product listings, blog content, and more. For example, when you search for a product on an e-commerce website, the database retrieves the relevant details and displays them for you.
Dedicated Hosting
This is the type of hosting where an entire server is allocated to one user. This means one server to one website, all the resources are all used by your website, and no sharing. We have a comprehensive article on dedicated hosting that will help you understand it in depth.
Domain Name
This is the unique, human-friendly address people use to access a website on the internet, like www.telahosting.com Instead of remembering complex numerical IP addresses, a domain name makes it easier to find and visit websites.
Disk Space
This refers to the amount of storage capacity allocated to a website on a hosting server. It determines how much data (like website files, images, videos, emails, and databases) you can store on the server.
DNS Propagation
This refers to the process of updating and distributing Domain Name System (DNS) records across all servers worldwide. When changes are made to a website’s DNS settings such as updating a domain’s IP address, changing hosting providers, or modifying name servers, it takes time for these updates to propagate and be recognized globally.
Dynamic Content
This refers to web content that changes based on various factors, like Personalized recommendations: Product suggestions based on past purchases or browsing history. This makes the website more interative, personalized and engaging to users.
E
Email Hosting
Email hosting is a service that allows you to create and manage custom email addresses using your domain name (e.g., [email protected]). Unlike free email services like Gmail or Yahoo, email hosting provides professional email addresses tailored to your brand, enhancing credibility and trust.
It’s mostly offered by web hosting providers as part of their packages or as a standalone service.
Encryption
This is the process of converting information or data into a secure code to prevent unauthorized access. It makes sure that sensitive information, like passwords, credit card details, or personal messages, is protected when transmitted over the internet. For example, when you shop online, encryption scrambles your payment details so that even if someone intercepts the data, they cannot understand or use it.
Error Log
An error log is a file that keeps track of any issues, warnings, or errors occurring on a server or website. It helps developers or administrators identify and troubleshoot problems effectively.
For example, if your website isn’t loading properly, the error log may show specific messages like “database connection failed” or “file not found,” giving you clues to resolve the issue quickly.
EPP Code (Extensible Provisioning Protocol)
This is a unique authorization key or password required to transfer a domain name from one registrar to another. it serves as a security measure to makes the transfer is being done by the rightful owner of the website.
Egress Traffic
This refers to data that leaves a network or server to an external destination, such as a user’s device or another network. In web hosting, it typically means the data sent from your website to visitors, like when someone downloads a file or views a webpage.
Endpoint
These are devices that connect to networks. Think of it as the entry or exit point for data communication within a network. Eg., computers (Laptops and Desktop), mobile devices (phones and tablets), Network appliances ( routers, firewalls).
F
Firewall
A firewall is a security system designed to monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined rules. It acts as a barrier between your server or website and potential threats, blocking unauthorized access while allowing legitimate traffic.
For example, a firewall can prevent hackers or malicious software from breaching your server by identifying and stopping suspicious activity, ensuring your website and data remain safe.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
FTP is a standard protocol used to transfer files between a computer and a server over the internet. It enables website owners or developers to upload, download, or manage files on their hosting server. This is basically like an envelope that carries data that is to be delivered.
For example, if you’re building a website, you can use an FTP client like FileZilla to upload your HTML, CSS, and image files from your computer to your web hosting server, making them accessible online.
Free Hosting
Free hosting is a type of web hosting service provided at no cost. It’s typically offered by companies to attract users who might later upgrade to paid plans. While free hosting can be suitable for small or experimental projects, it comes with significant limitations such as restricted storage, bandwidth, and features, and they are often supported by ads.
Fallback Server
This refers to a backup server that automatically takes over when the primary server fails or becomes unavailable. It guarantees minimal downtime and maintains service continuity for websites or applications.
Failover
This is a backup process in which a system automatically switches to a standby or secondary system when the primary system fails or is unavailable. It ensures continuous availability and minimal downtime for services.
G
Gateway
A gateway is a device or software that connects two different networks and enables communication and exchange of data. In web hosting, gateways are often used to manage and direct traffic between your website and the internet or to process payments securely through e-commerce platforms. Eg., payment gateways (Paystack, Flutter).
Geo-Hosting
Geo-hosting refers to hosting your website on servers located in specific geographic regions to optimize performance for users in that area. By hosting your site closer to your target audience, you can reduce latency, improve loading speeds, and enhance the overall user experience.
For instance, if your business primarily serves customers in Nigeria, hosting your website on servers in Nigeria or nearby regions ensures faster access times compared to hosting it on servers located far away, like in Europe or North America.
Git
This is a version control system that helps developers track changes in their codes or files, collaborate on projects, and manage multiple versions efficiently. With Git, developers can take snapshots of their codebase at anytime; with this, they can easily track a problem or make adjustments. This is like taking notes in a lecture room or conference.
GUAC (Graphical User Authentication Client)
This is a type of authentication system that uses graphical interfaces instead of traditional text-based methods like passwords. It enhances security by requiring users to interact with visual elements, such as selecting images, drawing patterns, or clicking specific areas on a screen.
H
Hosting Plan
A subscription package offered by hosting providers, this determines the type, features, and resources allocated to your website. It includes key elements like storage space, bandwidth, server type, and additional features such as email accounts or website builders. This cater for business, personal blogs.
HTTP/HTTPS (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure )
HTTPS is the secure version of HTTP. This is used to transfer data between a web browser and the website. With the “S” which means “secure” it makes sure all data and sensitive information, such as bank details and passwords, are encrypted to avoid interception by attacks.
Hypervisor
This is also known as virtual machine monitor (VMM) Software that creates and manages virtual machines on a physical server. With this, multiple virtual servers can run smoothly simultaneously on the same hardware, each functioning independently with its own operating system and resources.
Hotlink Protection
This a feature used to prevent other websites from directly linking to the files (like images, videos, or documents) on your server. It ensures that your server’s bandwidth is not consumed by other users displaying your content on their websites.
Hybrid Hosting
This is a type of hosting that Combines features of cloud and dedicated hosting. This gives you the advantge over others, you get to have the scability that comes with cloud and the privacy of dedicated hosting.
High Availability
This refers to the ability of a system or service to remain operational continuously with minimal downtime. It makes sure that your website, application, or service is always accessible to users, even in unexpected events.
I
IP Address (Internet Protocol)
This is a unique numerical identifier for a server or device on the internet. it is usually used like this (241.34.1.2) and for two main purposes,
Identification : it identifies any device or host on a network
Location addressing: it helps to locate a device on the network.
Think of an IP address as a postal address for your device. Just like a house has an address so the postal service can deliver mail to the correct location, an IP address ensures that data sent over the internet reaches the right device.
IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol)
This is a protocol used to retrieve and manage email messages for a mail server. IMAP allows you to access and organize your emails directly on the mail server without downloading them to your device.
Imagine IMAP as a virtual mailbox at the post office. Instead of taking all your mail home (like POP3), you go to the post office, read your letters, organize them into folders, or leave them there for later.
Indexing
This is the process of organizing and cataloging the content of a website so that search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo can understand and retrieve it quickly when users search for related information.
Imagine indexing as creating a table of contents for a massive library. Each book (web page) is carefully cataloged with details like titles, subjects, and authors. When someone wants information, the librarian (search engine) can quickly point to the right book in the library.
Inode
This is a data structure used by file systems to store information about files and directories. Each inode contains metadata about a file, such as its size, permissions, ownership, timestamps, and pointers to the file’s actual data on the storage device.
Instance
This refers to a single running copy of a virtual machine, server, or application in a cloud or hosting environment. It typically means one virtual server among all the virtual servers your website can connect to.
IPSec
This is a set of protocols designed to secure data transmitted over a network, particularly across the internet. It operates at the network layer and provides encryption, authentication, and integrity to ensure safe communication between devices.
Imagine sending a confidential letter through the mail. IPSec acts like a locked and sealed envelope (encryption), confirms the sender and receiver’s identities (authentication), and ensures the letter hasn’t been altered during transit (integrity).
L
LiteSpeed
This is high-performance web server software that delivers website content faster and more efficiently compared to traditional servers like Apache. It is known for its speed, reliability, and resource efficiency, making it popular among hosting providers.
Imagine LiteSpeed as a high-speed sports car compared to Apache, which is like a reliable family sedan. Both will get you to your destination, but LiteSpeed does it faster, with less fuel (resources) and smoother performance.
Load Balancer
This is a tool or device that distributes incoming network traffic across multiple servers to ensure no single server gets overwhelmed. It improves the performance, reliability, stability, and uptime of websites or applications.
Imagine a busy toll gate with multiple lanes. The toll manager (load balancer) directs each car (traffic) to the least busy lane (server), ensuring all cars move smoothly without long delays.
Latency
The delay or time it takes for data to travel from one point to another in a network. In web hosting and networking, it refers to the time between a user’s request (like clicking a link) and the response from the server (like loading the webpage).
Imagine sending a letter by post:
The time it takes for the letter to reach the recipient and return is the “latency.”
If the recipient lives nearby, the delay is minimal. If they live far away, it takes longer.
Load Testing
This is a process of testing a website, application, or system to measure its performance under expected and peak traffic conditions. It determines how well the system can handle a specified load and identify bottlenecks or potential points of failure.
Linux Hosting
This refers to web hosting services that use the Linux operating system on their servers.
Log Files
They are like a detailed diary of your website’s activity. They record every interaction between your website and visitors.
M
Malware
Malware is short for malicious software. This is a type of software designed to damage, disrupt, and illegally gain access to systems, networks, or data. This can harm websites, steal sensitive information, slow down performance, or even take the website offline.
Imagine your website as a house:
Malware is like a burglar breaking in to steal valuables (data), wreck the furniture (performance), or lock you out (ransomware).Without proper locks (security measures), your house is vulnerable.
MySQL
This manages and organizes data with the help of Structured Query Language (SQL).
It is an open-source relational database management system (RDBMS) commonly used in web hosting to store and retrieve data for websites and applications, such as user accounts, blog posts, or e-commerce products.
Tables are like bookshelves, each holding information on a specific topic (e.g., customers, orders, or inventory).
SQL queries are the librarian when you ask for a book (data), the librarian fetches it for you quickly.
Migration
This refers to the process of transferring a website, application, or data from one hosting provider, server, or environment to another. It ensures that the content, functionality, and services of the site remain intact and operational in the new hosting setup.
Imagine you’re moving to a new home:
- Backup: Packing all your belongings into boxes (website files).
- Transfer: transporting the boxes to your new home (new host).
- DNS Update: Giving your new address to your friends (updating domain settings).
- Testing: Ensuring everything is unpacked and arranged properly (testing website functionality).
- Go Live: Inviting friends over (making the site live for users).
Mail Server
This is a server that manages the sending, receiving, and storage of email messages. It acts as a digital post office, ensuring emails are correctly routed between senders and recipients.
Middleware
This is software that acts as a bridge between different systems, applications, or components that enables them to communicate and work together effectively. It sits between an operating system or database and applications, facilitating interaction without requiring the systems to be directly integrated.
Imagine a middleware system as a translator in a business meeting. Participants (applications or systems) speak different languages (technologies), and the translator (middleware) ensures everyone understands and collaborates effectively.
Managed Hosting
This is a type of web hosting where the hosting provider handles most or all of the server administration and management tasks. This mjostlly use by medium business of business with high traffic.
N
Nginx
This is a high-performance, open-source web server software that also functions as a reverse proxy, load balancer, and caching solution. It is designed to handle heavy website traffic efficiently while maintaining low resource usage.
Name Server
A name server is a special server on the internet that helps translate human-readable domain names (like www.example.com) into machine-readable IP addresses (like 192.168.2.1) so that computers can locate and communicate with each other.
Think of a name server as a phone book:
Domain Name = Contact Name: You know someone’s name but not their phone number (IP address).
Name Server = Phone Book: It looks up the name and provides the corresponding phone number so you can make a call (access the website).
Network Latency
Network latency refers to the delay or time it takes for data to travel from one point to another within a network. It’s usually measured in milliseconds (ms) and represents the time between sending a request (like clicking a link) and receiving a response (like the webpage loading).
Network Security
This safeguards a network from unauthorized access, cyberattacks, misuse, and data breaches, ensuring secure communication and operations.
NIC (Network Interface Card)
This is a hardware component that connects a computer or device to a network. It acts as the interface between a device and the network, allowing the device to communicate with other devices.
Node
This refers to any device or point within a network that can send, receive, or process data. it enables the flow of data within a network.
P
PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor)
Originally, PHP stood for “Personal Home Page,before it evolved into a powerful server-side scripting language. PHP is a popular, open-source scripting language used for web development. It runs on the server side, allowing developers to create dynamic and interactive websites by embedding code into HTML.
Think of PHP as the “kitchen” of a restaurant:
The HTML is like the restaurant’s menu, displaying static items.
PHP works in the kitchen, dynamically preparing the order (website content) based on the customer’s (user’s) input. For example, when a user logs in, PHP retrieves their information from the database and displays it.
Plesk
This is a commercial web hosting control panel that allows users to manage their websites, servers, and hosting accounts easily. It is an alternative to cPanel.
Proxy Server
Proxy is an intermediary server that sits between a client (like your computer) and another server (such as a web server) to process requests and responses.
Think of a proxy server as a middleman in a conversation. Instead of directly speaking to the other party (web server), you relay your message through the middleman (proxy). This setup can protect your identity, filter what is communicated, or even speed up the process.
Patch Management
This is the process of identifying, acquiring, testing, and installing updates (or “patches”) for software, applications, and operating systems on a computer or network. These patches are usually released by software vendors to fix security vulnerabilities, improve performance, or resolve bugs.
Ping
This is a network diagnostic tool used to test the connectivity between a device and a server or another device on a network. It measures the time it takes for a data packet to travel to the destination and return (round-trip time).
R
Reseller Hosting
This is a type of web hosting where an individual or company purchases hosting services from a larger hosting provider and then resells them to their own customers under their brand.
Reseller: You buy 100 GB of hosting space and divide it into 10 packages of 10 GB each to sell to your clients.
Redundancy
In web hosting, it refers to the duplication of critical systems, components, or resources to ensure continuous operation and minimize the risk of downtime. It acts as a backup system, ensuring that if one part fails, another can immediately take over without disrupting service.
A hosting provider may use multiple servers in different locations. If one server in Lagos experiences an issue, another server in Abuja can instantly take over, keeping the website online.
Root Access
In web hosting, it refers to having full administrative control over a server. It allows users to access and manage all aspects of the server environment, including system files, installed applications, and server settings. This level of access is typically provided to advanced users or system administrators who need complete control over their hosting setup.
S
Scalability
This is the ability to adjust server resources such as CPU, memory, storage, and bandwidth based on the changing needs of a website or application. A scalable hosting solution ensures that your website performs optimally, whether experiencing a steady flow of visitors or sudden traffic spikes.
Scalability is like hosting an event in a venue. If more guests show up than expected, you can either expand the space (vertical scaling) or open additional rooms to accommodate everyone (horizontal scaling). Similarly, scalable hosting ensures your website can grow with your audience without interruptions.
Shared Hosting
This is the type of hosting where multiple web hosts share one server and its resources simultaneously. To understand how shared hosting operates, there is a comprehensive guide on shared hosting that will help you understand its concept.
SSL Certificate
An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a digital certificate that establishes that a website is secured and its identity verified, which enables an encrypted connection. This is a digital passport; it verifies that the website you are about to login to is secured, giving you the assurance to go ahead.
Snapshot
This is a point-in-time copy of your entire website’s data, including files, databases, and configurations. It’s like taking a photograph of your website at a specific moment.
Spam Filter
A spam filter is a program or system designed to identify and block unsolicited, unwanted, and potentially harmful emails. Think of it as a digital gatekeeper for your inbox.
Static Content
This refers to files that are stored on a server and delivered to users’ browsers exactly as they are, without any server-side processing. Static content is a fundamental component of most websites, and its efficient delivery is crucial for a good user experience.
T
Traffic
Traffic refers to the amount of data transferred between your website and visitors’ browsers. It includes all incoming and outgoing data, such as website visits, downloads, emails, and more. This can simply mean the number of people that visit your website.
It is just like a new restaurant; they have few visitors (less traffic), but when they get famous, they have many visitors (more traffic).
TTL (Time To Live)
This refers to the duration for which a DNS record (like an IP address or a server name) is cached by a DNS resolver. This caching mechanism speeds up website access by reducing the number of DNS lookups required.
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
2FA stands for Two-Factor Authentication. It’s a security method that requires two forms of identification to access resources and data.
Think of it like a locked door with two locks:
- Something you know: This is usually a password or PIN.
- Something you have: This could be a security code sent to your phone, a physical security key, or a biometric factor like a fingerprint or facial recognition.
Traceroute
This is a network diagnostic tool used to track the path that data packets take from a source to a destination across an IP network.
Imagine you’re sending a letter to a friend across the country. You want to know exactly how it travels, which cities it passes through, and how long it takes at each stop. Traceroute is like a tracking device for your internet data.
Throughput
This is a measure of how much data can be transferred or processed within a given amount of time. This indicates the performance and efficiency in any system that deals with the flow of data or information.
Tokenization
This is a security method that replaces sensitive data with unique, non-sensitive substitutes called “tokens.” These tokens have no intrinsic meaning or value on their own.
Imagine you have a secret recipe. Instead of writing down the actual ingredients, you replace each ingredient with a code word (e.g., “sparkle” for sugar, “whisper” for flour). These code words are your tokens.
U
Uptime
This is the amount of time your website is active and accessible to your visitors. A good hosting provider should be able to provide 99% uptime to its clients.
URL (Uniform Resource Locator)
A URL, is the address of a specific resource on the internet. It’s like a physical address for a website or a file on the web.
components of a URL (https://www.telahosting.com/blog)
Protocol: (https://) indicates the protocol used to access the resource. In this case, it’s HTTPS, which stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure.
Domain Name: (www.telahosting.com) is the domain name, which identifies the specific website or server.
Path:(/blog) specifies the location of the resource within the website’s directory structure.
Upgrade
This is the process of enhancing your resources to suit the needs of your client. A client can upgrade from shared hosting to VPS.
V
VPS Hosting (Virtual Private Server)
This is a type of hosting that give dedicated resources on virtual servers. this is a type of shared hosting but with dedicated resources. to understand it more, this article on VPS hosting will assist you to know more on How it works
Version Control
version control plays a crucial role in managing website code and ensuring smooth updates and deployments. It allows developers to track changes, collaborate efficiently, and revert to previous versions if needed.
Virtualization
This is the creation of virtual servers on a physical server. this is possible with help hypervisor, which creates virtual servers from physical servers.
W
Web Server
A web server is a computer program and hardware that stores website files and delivers them to users’ browsers. It’s the engine of the internet, allowing you to access websites and their content.
Think of it like a librarian:
The library: The web server stores all the books (website files).
WordPress
WordPress is a powerful and user-friendly content management system (CMS) that allows you to create and manage websites without needing extensive coding knowledge. It’s one of the most popular website-building platforms in the world, powering millions of websites, from simple blogs to complex e-commerce stores.
Wildcard SSL
A Wildcard SSL certificate is a type of SSL certificate that secures a single domain and all its subdomains with a single certificate. It uses an asterisk (*) as a wildcard character to represent any subdomain. So instead of buying an SSL certificate for all your subdomains, you can use a wildcard SSL to secure all of them.
Z
Zone File
Zero Downtime
A hosting feature that ensures your website availability. This happens when your website always active and accessible to your visitors.
Zlib
This is a popular open-source library used for data compression. It’s often used to compress website files before they’re sent to a user’s browser. This significantly reduces file size, leading to faster page load times and lower bandwidth usage.