Web hosting is a service that enables individuals and organizations to make their own websites accessible via the World Wide Web. Web hosts or hosting firms are companies that provide space on a server they own for use by their clients. Sometimes, these hosting firms provide Internet connectivity, typically in a data center. Web hosts can also provide data center space and connectivity to the Internet for servers they do not own to be located in their data center, called co-location.
The menu of hosting services varies widely. The most basic is webpage and small-scale file hosting, where files can be uploaded via File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or a web interface. The files are usually delivered to the web "as is" or with little processing. Many Internet service providers (ISPs) offer this service for free to their subscribers. People can also obtain web page hosting from other, alternative service providers.
Single page hosting is generally sufficient only for personal web pages. A complex site calls for a more comprehensive package that provides database support and application development platforms (e.g. PHP, Java, and ASP.NET). These functionalities allow the customers to write or install scripts for applications like forums and content management. For e-commerce, a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) is also required.
The host may also provide an interface or control panel for managing the Web server and installing scripts as well as other services like e-mail. Some hosts specialize in certain software or services (e.g. e-commerce). They are commonly used by larger companies to outsource network infrastructure to a hosting company. To find a web hosting company, there are searchable directories that can be used.