When you visit a website, the pages, images, and other resources you see are actually files stored on a special type of computer called a server. Unlike your personal computer, a server is designed to remain online 24/7, reliably delivering files to anyone who requests them from anywhere in the world. The process that allows these files to be stored and accessed is called web hosting. To make a website available to the public, its files must be placed on a server that is connected to the internet and configured to respond to requests from users' browsers. What makes a server "public" is that it is reachable from anywhere online, not just within a private network. Hosting providers operate large numbers of these public servers, ensuring that website files are always available and served quickly to visitors.

Web hosting providers play a crucial role in making websites accessible to users around the globe. They own and manage powerful servers that are always connected to the internet. When you purchase hosting, your website files are placed on one of these servers. The hosting provider ensures that the server is assigned a unique IP address, which acts like a street address on the internet. This IP address allows anyone, anywhere, to send a request to the server and receive your website's files in response.

The relationship between domain names, DNS, and hosting brings together several concepts you have already explored. While your hosting provider stores your website files and gives your server an IP address, your domain name (like example.com) is what users actually type in their browsers. The Domain Name System (DNS) acts as a directory that translates the human-friendly domain name into the numerical IP address of your hosting server. This way, when someone enters your domain name, DNS helps their browser find your server and load your website.

You can think of web hosting like renting a storefront for a business. The server is the physical building where your products (website files) are stored. The hosting provider is your landlord, making sure the building stays open, secure, and connected to the main road (the internet). Your domain name is like the sign above your door that customers use to find your shop. The DNS is the directory that tells people which street and number to go to when they want to visit your store. Just as a good storefront makes your business visible and accessible, reliable web hosting ensures your website is always open for visitors.