1.0123 Reg Blog: Small business tips, insight and advicehttps://www.123-reg.co.uk/blog123 Reghttps://www.123-reg.co.uk/blog/author/123-reg/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="B2N41ZI6id"><a href="https://www.123-reg.co.uk/blog/infographics/hosting-what-is-web-hosting/">Hosting: What is Web Hosting?</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.123-reg.co.uk/blog/infographics/hosting-what-is-web-hosting/embed/#?secret=B2N41ZI6id" width="600" height="338" title="“Hosting: What is Web Hosting?” — 123 Reg Blog: Small business tips, insight and advice" data-secret="B2N41ZI6id" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script> /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://www.123-reg.co.uk/blog/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js </script> https://www.123-reg.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Blog-Header-Domain-Transfer-1440x460-2.jpg1440460Web hosting is the service that gives your website a home on the internet. It stores your website’s files on a server and makes them accessible to visitors around the clock, wherever they are in the world. When someone types your web address into their browser, it’s your hosting that receives that request and delivers your site back to them. Without it, your website has nowhere to live and no way for anyone to reach it.   What does hosting actually do? When you build a website, all of its files — the pages, images, code, and content — need a place to live. Web hosting provides that space on a server that’s permanently connected to the internet. When someone visits your web address, your hosting serves up those files so the page can load. It’s a bit like the difference between writing a book and actually putting it on a shelf where people can find and read it. A trusted hosting provider such as 123 Reg manages the physical infrastructure: the servers, network connections, power supply, and the security of the data centre itself.   Why hosting matters The quality of your hosting has a direct impact on how your website performs and how your business appears online. ✓ Speed and performance — page load times affect both user experience and search engine rankings. Faster hosting gives you an edge on both fronts. ✓ Uptime and reliability — your website needs to be available whenever a customer looks for you. Unreliable hosting means lost traffic and missed opportunities. ✓ Security — quality hosting includes security measures that protect your site and your customers’ data. ✓ Scalability — as your business grows, the right hosting plan gives you room to accommodate increased traffic without performance dropping off.   Managed vs Self-Managed Hosting When choosing a hosting plan, one of the key decisions is how much control you want over your server environment. Most hosting plans work with popular Content Management Systems (CMS), so you can build and run a site without coding everything from scratch. ☐ Managed Hosting means the day-to-day technical side is handled for you. Things like security updates, server maintenance, and performance monitoring are taken care of. For most small business owners without a dedicated technical resource, this is usually the simpler option. ☐ Self-Managed (or “Unmanaged”) Hosting gives you full control over the hosting environment. You’re responsible for setup, updates, software installation, and ongoing maintenance. It tends to suit developers or more technical users who want full flexibility and control. Choosing your CMS A Content Management System (CMS) is the tool you use to build and manage your website. Instead of writing code, you get a dashboard where you can add pages, upload images, and publish content. Popular options include WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. These work with most hosting plans, so you can pick the one that fits how you want to build your site. If you already know you want WordPress, you can go for WordPress Hosting. It comes set up for WordPress and is maintained for you, so you can focus on building your site rather than setup and updates. For more, check out: Managed vs Self-Managed Hosting   Website Builder: Hosting included as standard Standalone hosting isn’t the right fit for everyone. If you want to get a business website online in minutes, 123 Reg Website Builder is often the easier choice. Hosting is included, along with the tools to design, build and publish your site, so you can focus on getting your ideas live. Learn more about Website Builder   Which hosting plan is right for you? 123 Reg offers a range of hosting plans to suit different needs and stages of growth: Web Hosting is our entry-level managed option. It’s simple, affordable, and ideal for new or straightforward websites. The technical side is taken care of, so you can focus on building your site. Premium Hosting offers more power and resources for websites that are growing. A good step up when your site starts getting more traffic or needs more behind it. Managed WordPress Hosting is built for WordPress sites. It comes set up and ready to go, with updates and maintenance handled for you. A good choice if you want a WordPress site without worrying about the technical side. VPS Hosting gives you a dedicated slice of a server with full control over your environment. It’s self-managed, so it suits those who are comfortable on the technical side and need serious performance or custom configuration. Not sure where to start? Web Hosting is the right choice for most people. You can always upgrade as your needs grow.   What is cPanel? cPanel is the control panel that comes with most web hosting plans. It gives you a visual interface for managing everything connected to your hosting account, without needing any command-line experience. From cPanel you can, for example: ✓ Manage your website files, databases, and email accounts ✓ Install platforms like WordPress with a single click ✓ Configure security settings, SSL certificates, and access controls See also: What is cPanel?   Ready to get your website online? Choosing the right hosting plan is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your website. Take a look at our 123 Reg Web Hosting plans to find the right fit.