What is web hosting ? What are its various categories ?

Web Hosting is a means of hosting web-server application on a computer system through which electronic content on the Internet is readily available to any web-browser client.

The various categories of web hosting are as follows:

1. Free Hosting — This type of hosting is available with many prominent sites that offer to host some web pages for no cost. For example, geocities, tripod, homestead etc.
2. Virtual or Shared Hosting — With a hosting plan with the web hosting company, one can present oneself as a fully independent identity to his/her web audience under one's own domain name.
   One can access and update the site and its files are carefully secured. Through a logon-id and password, one has 24-hour access to maintain one's site.
3. Dedicated Hosting — In this type of hosting, the company wishing to go online, rents an entire web server from a hosting company. This is suitable for large, high-traffic sites, or for those with special needs such as e-commerce or security.
4. Co-location Hosting — Co-location hosting is similar to that of dedicated hosting except for the fact that the server is now provided by the user-company itself and its physical needs are met by the hosting company. Co-location hosting is suitable for those with complex needs and for those who require the ability to make changes as per its changing requirement as and when needed.