Web hosting is what keeps your website live on the internet. Whether you’re managing your own site or working with a hosting company, understanding the basics helps you make better technical and financial decisions.
This glossary explains the most common web hosting terms in plain English.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A
Account suspension
When your hosting provider temporarily disables your website, often due to missed payments, malware, or overusing resources.
Addon domain
An extra domain hosted under the same account as your main website. Useful if you manage multiple small sites.
Apache
A popular open-source web server software used by many hosting providers to deliver websites to browsers.
Auto-installer
A tool in your hosting control panel that installs software like WordPress or Joomla with a few clicks.
B
Backup
A copy of your website files and database that can be restored if something goes wrong. Many hosts provide automatic daily backups.
Bandwidth
The amount of data transferred between your website and its visitors. High-traffic sites need more bandwidth to stay fast and stable.
Bot attack
When automated scripts (bots) flood your website with requests to slow it down or hack it. Good hosts provide protection against this.
Browser caching
Storing parts of your website on a visitor’s device so it loads faster next time they visit.
C
cPanel
A common control panel that lets you manage your hosting — including files, email, databases, and backups — through an easy web interface.
Cache
Temporary storage that helps websites load faster by reducing the need to repeatedly load the same files.
Cloud hosting
Hosting that spreads your website across multiple connected servers instead of one physical machine. It’s reliable and scalable.
CPU (Central Processing Unit)
The main processor that powers your hosting server. More CPU resources mean your website can handle more visitors and tasks.
CDN (Content Delivery Network)
A network of servers around the world that store copies of your site’s static files to deliver them faster to nearby visitors.
D
Database
Where your website stores structured data, such as posts, users, and settings. WordPress uses MySQL or MariaDB databases.
Data centre
A secure building that houses servers. Your hosting provider stores your website’s data in one or more data centres.
Dedicated server
A hosting plan where your website runs on a server entirely reserved for you. It offers maximum performance and control but costs more.
DNS (Domain Name System)
Translates your domain name (like example.co.uk) into an IP address that computers use to find your website.
Downtime
The period when your website is unavailable due to maintenance, server failure, or network issues.
E
Email hosting
A service that lets you create and manage custom email addresses linked to your domain, like info@yourbusiness.co.uk.
Encryption
Scrambling data so it can only be read by authorised users. SSL certificates use encryption to protect customer information.
Error log
A record of technical issues that occur on your server. Reviewing error logs helps troubleshoot problems.
F
Firewall
Security software or hardware that filters traffic to block malicious activity.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
A method for uploading or downloading files between your computer and your hosting server. Commonly used for site maintenance.
File manager
A tool in your hosting control panel that lets you browse and edit website files directly through your browser.
G
Guru
A UK-based web hosting company known for speed and reliability — often used for WordPress and business websites.
Gigabyte (GB)
A unit of data storage. Hosting plans often include limits like “10 GB storage” or “100 GB bandwidth.”
Green hosting
Hosting powered by renewable energy sources or carbon offsets to reduce environmental impact.
H
Host
The company that provides the servers and technology needed to keep your website online.
Hosting plan
The package or service level you choose from a provider — such as shared, VPS, or dedicated hosting.
HTTP / HTTPS
Protocols used to transfer data between your website and users. HTTPS adds a layer of encryption for security.
I
IP address
A unique number that identifies a server or website on the internet. Dedicated IPs can improve email delivery and security.
IMAP / POP3
Email protocols. IMAP stores emails on the server and syncs across devices; POP3 downloads them to one device.
Index file
The default page shown when someone visits your domain — usually named index.html or index.php.
J
Joomla
An open-source content management system (CMS) similar to WordPress, used for building and managing websites.
K
Kernel
The core part of an operating system that manages communication between software and hardware on a server.
Keepalive
A setting that allows a server to handle multiple requests from the same user without repeatedly opening new connections, improving speed.
L
Load balancing
Distributing website traffic evenly across multiple servers to prevent overload and downtime.
Latency
The time it takes for data to travel from the server to the visitor’s device. Lower latency means faster page loads.
LiteSpeed
A high-performance web server software that’s faster and more efficient than Apache. Often used with WordPress for speed boosts.
M
Malware
Malicious software designed to harm or gain unauthorised access to websites. Many hosts offer malware scanning and removal.
Migration
Moving a website from one hosting provider or server to another. Often includes copying files, databases, and emails.
MySQL
A database management system used by many websites, including WordPress, to store and retrieve data.
N
Name server
A server that stores DNS records for your domain, helping browsers find your website’s location.
Node
A single server or part of a larger hosting system, such as a node within a cloud network.
NVMe
A type of high-speed storage drive that loads websites much faster than traditional SSD or HDD options.
O
Origin server
The main server where your website is hosted before copies are sent to CDNs or cache servers.
Outage
A period when your website or server goes offline due to maintenance or technical issues.
Overselling
When a hosting provider sells more resources than are available. This can lead to slower speeds on shared plans.
P
PHP
A programming language used by many websites and CMS platforms like WordPress to display dynamic content.
Port
A communication endpoint used by your server for different services, such as FTP, HTTP, or email.
Proxy server
A server that acts as an intermediary between users and the internet to filter requests, improve speed, or protect privacy.
Performance optimisation
Adjusting server settings and caching tools to make your website load faster and run smoothly.
Q
Quota
The limits set by your hosting plan — such as storage space, monthly bandwidth, or number of email accounts.
R
RAID
A technology that stores data across multiple drives to improve speed or prevent data loss if one drive fails.
Reboot
Restarting your server to fix issues or apply updates. On shared hosting, this is handled by your provider.
Root access
Full administrative control of a server, allowing advanced configuration and software installation. Usually available only on VPS or dedicated plans.
S
Shared hosting
A hosting plan where multiple websites share the same server resources. It’s affordable but less powerful than VPS or dedicated hosting.
SSL certificate
A digital certificate that encrypts information between your website and its visitors. It’s required for HTTPS and builds trust.
SSH (Secure Shell)
A secure method for accessing and managing your server remotely through command-line tools.
Subdomain
A secondary address that’s part of your main domain, like shop.example.co.uk or blog.example.co.uk.
Server uptime
The percentage of time your website is available online. Good hosts aim for 99.9% uptime or better.
T
Ticket system
An online help system used by hosting providers for customer support requests.
Traffic
The number of visitors or amount of data your site handles. High traffic can slow down shared hosting.
Transfer limit
The maximum amount of data that can be transferred each month under your plan. Going over this may trigger fees or throttling.
Two-factor authentication (2FA)
An extra layer of login security requiring both a password and a second form of verification, such as a code sent to your phone.
U
Uptime
The total time your website is live and accessible. It’s one of the main indicators of hosting reliability.
Unmetered hosting
A plan where bandwidth or data transfer isn’t capped, although fair usage limits still apply.
Upgrade
Moving to a higher hosting tier with more resources or better performance when your website grows.
V
Virtual Private Server (VPS)
A hosting plan that gives you dedicated resources within a shared physical server. It’s faster and more flexible than shared hosting.
Virus scanning
Regular security checks to detect and remove malware or suspicious files from your hosting account.
Varnish cache
A web application accelerator that stores copies of pages to serve them quickly without needing to regenerate content each time.
W
Web server
The software and hardware responsible for delivering your website to visitors’ browsers. Examples include Apache, LiteSpeed, and Nginx.
Website builder
An online tool that lets you create websites without coding. Many hosts include drag-and-drop builders in their plans.
WordPress hosting
Hosting optimised specifically for WordPress websites, often including automatic updates, backups, and caching tools.
WHOIS
A public record showing who owns a domain name, including registration dates and contact information.
X
Xcache
A PHP caching system that speeds up websites by storing compiled code in memory for faster reuse.
Y
Yottabyte
A huge unit of digital storage equal to one trillion gigabytes. Far beyond what any standard hosting plan offers!
Z
Zip file
A compressed file format used for bundling and transferring website backups or plugin packages efficiently.
Zone file
A file on a name server that contains the DNS records for your domain, including IP addresses and mail settings.