Although web hosting is just about hosting your website, there are many web hosting terms that one might be unfamiliar with. Having complete knowledge about all the aspects related to web hosting will give you a better understanding about what you are getting with your web hosting package. Web hosting is a technology driven industry and you might come across various web hosting terms for the first time.
Here is an all inclusive list of all the important web hosting terms:
404
A 404 error page is a standard response code generated by a web server to indicate that the requested webpage could not be found on the server. This typically occurs when a user enters an incorrect URL, clicks on a broken link, or the page has been removed or relocated. The 404 error page serves as a notification to users that the intended content is unavailable and often provides suggestions, links, or a personalized message to guide users back to relevant parts of the website.
Access
Microsoft’s widely-used database application, renowned for its capability in crafting databases, personalized forms, tables, and SQL databases, finds its place within the Microsoft Office Professional suite; alternatively, it can be obtained as a standalone product.
Accessibility
Accessibility involves ensuring that your website functions effectively for all individuals, including those with disabilities. Adhering to fundamental accessibility standards is mandatory for certain business websites and is considered a recommended approach for all online platforms. The goal is to prevent any visitors from feeling excluded and subsequently leaving your site.
Anonymous FTP
This feature, often referred to as “anonymous FTP,” enables users to upload and download files without the need to establish an FTP account, thus maintaining anonymity. It is frequently utilized by individuals who wish to provide public access to files such as documents or software updates for downloading purposes.
Applet
An applet is a responsive program or application designed to carry out minor tasks. It runs on the client’s end and serves to offer interactive functionalities. Typically coded in the Java language, it is integrated into HTML pages. A notable distinction between standard Java applications and Java applets lies in the fact that applets lack the capability to access system resources on the user’s local computer.
Addon Domain
Addon domain is an additional domain that can be added through your control panel. The functionalities like hosting a website, creating email addresses, forwarders etc. can be performed on the addon domain just like your main domain.
Apache Web Server
The Apache web server delivers the web content to the users generally through their web browsers. Apache is a free and open source web server and it is maintained by an open community of Apache developers. Apache is feature-rich and a stable web server that is widely used by web hosting service providers.
Bitmapped Graphic
A bitmapped graphic is a digital image in which each pixel is denoted by a specific number of bits.
Bug
A computer bug refers to a glitch in the system, stemming from errors within hardware or software programs. Such bugs often result in system failures, primarily arising from coding mistakes or the mismatched compatibility of software applications.
b2evolution
b2evolution is a multi-user, multi-lingual and multi-blog publishing platform. This is an open source blogging platform that is created in PHP and backed by the MySQL database. It is one of the most efficient blog management platforms.
Bandwidth
Bandwidth is the measure of the data that can be transferred at a given point of time. Data transfer of your website occurs when visitors come to your website and are involved in actions like browsing, file downloading, file uploading etc.
Blog
A blog is a website that is constantly updated by an individual or a group of people / bloggers. One or more authors can publish articles, images, videos and other content in a blog.
Bounce Rate
Bounce rate of the website determines the volume of visitors to your website who leave your website in a short span of time or after viewing just one page on the website. A high bounce rate means that people are not finding what they are looking for on your website and they are not interested in browsing your website. A high bounce rate is an alarming sign for the website to make improvements for holding the visitor attention.
Browser
A browser or a web browser is a client application that decodes the HTML from a web server and displays it as an easily readable web page. The commonly used web browsers include Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer and Apple Safari.
CGI
The Common Gateway Interface (CGI) is an intermediary program that enhances the capabilities of web servers. It consists of a collection of instructions crafted in a programming language, tasked with handling data processing and generating outcomes. When actions like form submissions, search queries, user registrations, or input of login credentials occur on a website, it’s highly likely that a CGI script is employed by the server to manage and interpret the provided information. These scripts can be coded in a variety of programming languages such as C/C++, Perl, Java, PHP, ASP, Visual Basic, and more. Typically, they are housed within a distinct directory known as “cgi-bin.”
CSS
CSS is an acronym for Cascading Style Sheets, a prevalent programming language employed to delineate the style and arrangement of HTML documents. While understanding CSS remains beneficial for developers, the proliferation of website builders and content management systems has diminished the necessity for most website owners to engage with it directly.
CTA
CTA represents “call to action,” the segment of a webpage where you guide the visitor regarding their subsequent steps. Whenever you encounter a button labeled “Purchase now,” “Sign up here,” or a link reading “Learn more,” each of these instances constitutes a CTA.
Cache
Cache refers to a transient repository of data on your computer. Upon accessing a webpage, its data is cached (stored) on your PC, facilitating swift retrieval upon subsequent visits, as fetching data from the cache proves significantly quicker than from the web server. Frequently accessed sites are often cached by Internet Service Providers (ISPs), allowing them to furnish you with the webpage’s content directly from their cached version when you attempt to access it.
Caching
Caching involves the practice of storing your website’s data within a provisional storage location, aiming to expedite loading times for recurring visitors. During the initial visit, a visitor’s browser expends time to load various elements of the site, encompassing images, text, code, and more. By implementing caching, this data can be preserved following the inaugural visit, allowing the browser to recollect it for subsequent visits.
Collocated hosting
Collocated hosting, alternatively referred to as co-located hosting, is a web hosting variant that empowers you to position your personal server within a datacenter’s facilities. This server remains consistently tethered to high-speed internet connectivity and a reliable power supply. Opting for collocated hosting proves advantageous for individuals who possess their dedicated servers and seek comprehensive authority over its setup.
Conversion
A conversion transpires whenever a visitor undertakes a desired action on your website. This action could encompass tasks such as clicking on a link, enrolling in an email list, or completing a purchase, among other prevalent scenarios. Crafting a proficient website involves a focus on optimizing conversion rates (CRO), ensuring that this objective is paramount in the design process.
Cookie
A cookie constitutes a diminutive fragment of data that is autonomously saved (by a Web server) onto a user’s hard drive. The fundamental intent behind cookies is user identification, leading them to potentially include details like login credentials, passwords, contents of online shopping carts, or other data pertinent to websites. These cookies retain information that can be retrieved by other web pages within the same site. Furthermore, there exists a variant of cookies with designated expiration dates, automatically erasing themselves upon the lapse of the specified time period.
Cron jobs
Cron jobs encompass a suite of applications that enable you to replicate specific sets of scripts, facilitating the scheduled execution of particular tasks within designated time intervals for specific applications.
Catch-All Email
Catch-All is a mailbox on the domain that catches all the emails that are addressed to the domain. The catch-all mailbox catches the emails that do not exist in the mail server. If you have configured the catch-all address, then you won’t lose the emails due to misspelling.
Cloud Hosting
Managed Cloud hosting is a cluster of servers that stores the data virtually in the cloud. Cloud hosting has the ability to scale the resources up or down in real time depending on the requirements of your website / application. The owner of the cloud server can access the data from anywhere at any time. Cloud servers are perfect for meeting the requirements of extensive software development and business production requirements along with ensuring affordability.
Cloudlet
A cloudlet is a mobility-enhanced and a small-scale cloud datacenter located at the edge of the internet. The main task of a cloudlet is to support the interactive and resource-intensive mobile applications by providing the mobile devices with powerful computing resources along with ensuring low latency. A cloudlet is a state of art technology that extends today’s cloud computing infrastructure. In MilesWeb’s cloud hosting, 1 Cloudlet = 128 MB RAM + 400 MHz CPU .
Country Code TLD
Country code TLD signifies country code top level domain. This is the two letter code that identifies the websites and content specific to a country. For instance for India the country code TLD is ‘.in’ for USA, the country code TLD ‘.us’ can be used and ‘.uk’ for United Kingdom.
Control Panel
The control panel is provided by the web hosting companies to manage your web hosting account and your website. A control panel is a web based interface that enables the customers to manage their hosting services through a single interface. A control panel allows you to add email addresses, park domains, install applications, upload files, manage databases etc.
CMS
CMS stands for Content Management System. A content management system is a system that runs in the backend and manages the content. You can easily post content to your website through a CMS and make it look appealing to your website visitors. You can also add a new theme to your website through a CMS and you can keep adding new content at any time. Some popular examples of CMSs include WordPress, Joomla, Drupal etc.
CPU
CPU stands for Central Processing Unit. It is the central processor of the computer where all the calculations are done.
cPanel
cPanel is a control panel that is offered with the Linux based web hosting services. This control panel is user friendly and it provides with a graphical interface and automation tools for simplifying website management.
cPanel Hosting
cPanel hosting is the web hosting service that works with the cPanel control panel. cPanel is provided for the Linux web hosting services. cPanel is a user-friendly control panel and it facilitates effective website management. With cPanel, you can easily manage the website files, databases, create email accounts, manage domains and sub-domains and do much more.
Database
A database is a system of storing information. Various types of data is organized and stored in a database and it can be easily accessed, managed and updated. In a database the data is stored in columns, rows and tables thus making it easy to find the relevant information.
Data Transfer
Data transfer pertains to the cumulative volume of data that can be transmitted (uploaded/downloaded) via your website within a predetermined time span. This data commonly encompasses elements such as images, software, videos, and more.
Datacenter
A datacenter is a facility that houses the web hosting servers. It is a physical infrastructure that is used for housing computers, servers, networking systems and other components for the company’s IT infrastructure. The web hosting datacenters are based in several locations and you can choose to house your servers in the location near you.
DDOS Attack
DDOS attack stands for Denial Of Service Attack. In this attack various compromised systems that are infected with a Trojan are used for targeting a single system thus causing a denial of service attack. This is a cyber attack that aims at making a computer or network resources unavailable.
Dedicated Hosting
In dedicated hosting, you rent a complete server. The user gets complete control over the server and all the server resources can be used by that single user.
Dedicated IP
Dedicated IP is the IP that is exclusively allotted to a website. It is a unique IP that is devoted to a single hosting account. A dedicated IP address is required if you wish to install an SSL certificate on your website or you can also use it for email service.
Disk Space
Disk space is the amount of storage space that is available in your hosting plan. You will need sufficient disk space to store the website html pages, databases, files, emails, images etc.
DKIM
DKIM stands for Domain Keys Identified Mail. This is a process of verifying if the incoming email messages are actually coming from the mentioned sender. This process also verifies if the email message has been modified during transit. When the DKIM system is enabled, the sender digitally puts his/her signature on the message through a private key. The recipient retrieves the sender’s public key through DNS and verifies the signature on the email message.
Domain Name
Domain name is the name of your website through which people can find you online. You can register your desired domain name and your website will be known by that domain name. For example if your business name is MilesWeb, then you can register a domain name like – www.milesweb.com.
Domain Aliases
This is a domain name that point to some other domain. Through domain aliases, users can access the same website with many different web addresses. Many organizations create domain aliases by registering many similar domain name that resemble with their main domain name and point them to the same website.
Domain Parking
Domain parking is the process of registration of the domain name, this domain is not associated with any services like emails or website. At times, domain parking is done in order to reserve the domain for future use.
Domain Privacy
Domain privacy is a security service provided by various domain name registrars. If you own a domain, you can purchase domain privacy from the domain registrar. When you purchase the domain privacy option, the domain registrar will replace your information in the WHOIS records with other information and a forwarding service in order to maintain your privacy.
Domain Registrar
Domain registrar is the entity that registers your domain name. When you purchase a domain name, you will have to follow the process of registering your domain name in order to link it with your IP address. The main domain registrar is the entity that has the access to register domain names along with your desired domain name extensions like .com, .co.in, .net etc.
DNS
DNS stands for Domain Name Server. This process translates the internet domain names and host names to IP address. DNS is equivalent to the internet’s phone book. The DNS maintains a database of domain names and translates them into Internet Protocol (IP) address. The DNS process is necessary because it is easy for people to remember the domain names but the computers and machines remember the domain names as IP addresses.
Drupal
Drupal is a free and open source content management system based on PHP. It needs to be customized and then you can publish content to your website along with media files. Drupal is easy to use and it can be used by individuals or groups. Drupal incorporates a content management platform along with a development framework.
Email Client
An email client refers to a software application operating on the user’s computer, dedicated to the functions of sending, receiving, and organizing emails. Termed a “client” due to its role in relation to the email server, it acts as an intermediary. Notable instances of email clients encompass Mozilla Thunderbird, Microsoft Outlook, Entourage, Opera Mail, and more. These mail clients necessitate configuration to establish access to specific email accounts.
Email Forwarding
Email forwarding is a feature employed to reroute emails initially addressed to one email account to an alternative destination. To illustrate, if you wish to direct all emails sent to yourname@yourdomain.com to your.name@mydomain.com, you can make use of the email forwarding functionality.
Ecommerce Hosting
Ecommerce hosting is the hosting platform for running an online store. Ecommerce hosting enables you to set up your online store within a short span of time. Ecommerce hosting includes optimized web servers for managing the online store and ecommerce installation and migration.
Email Hosting
Email hosting is the process of creating secure business email IDs for your organization. Email hosting is backed by a hosting platform that manages email servers. In simple words if you own a domain name and you want your email address to be with that domain name, then you have to sign up for an email hosting service.
Email Auto Responder
The auto responder sends automated email responses through a specific email address. You can create the draft for the auto response emails before setting them up. The auto responder emails are generally used in order to notify people if you are on a vacation or in for any situation when you are unable to reply to the emails.
Error Pages
An error page is a warning page to let your website visitors know that there is an error on the web page that they are trying to access. The error pages are also displayed when there is a server related error. The error pages include 500 internal server error (usually displayed when a server or database is down) or a 404 page not found error (displayed when the requested web page does not exist).
Firewall
A firewall constitutes a combination of hardware and software components employed to govern access to specific ports, IP addresses, and even network protocols of a server, concurrently with its monitoring. This protective measure finds frequent application in local area networks connected to the Internet, serving as a safeguard against various forms of attacks targeted at the server.
Flash
Flash represents a bandwidth-efficient, browser-agnostic vector-graphic animation technology introduced by Adobe (initially acquired by Macromedia and now developed and distributed by Adobe). This technology enables the dissemination of interactive vector graphics and animations via the Internet. In essence, it’s a programming methodology that ensures the smooth display and transmission of movies and animations through web browsers.
FrontPage
FrontPage stands as a widely used website management instrument and WYSIWYG HTML editor originating from Microsoft. Tailored for Microsoft Windows operating systems, this tool employs the Internet Explorer engine for webpage creation. It’s worth noting that pages fashioned with FrontPage might manifest varying appearances in browsers leveraging different engines, such as Gecko. Nonetheless, skillful utilization of compatibility mode allows for the creation of pages that exhibit uniformity across diverse browsers.
Fantastico
Fantastico is a script library through which you can automatically install the required web applications like WordPress, Joomla, Drupal for your website. Fantastico scripts can be accessed and installed through the website control panel – cPanel.
File Permission
File permissions are the access levels set for certain users or groups. File permissions might include complete access to a file, access to file editing or read-only permission etc.
Forum
A forum is an online community or an online bulletin board. You can usually add a forum to your website through your control panel and you can customize it according to your requirements.
FTP
FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. FTP is utilized for transferring files between computers on a network. FTP can be used for exchanging files between computer accounts, transferring files between an account and a desktop computer.
Google is one of the most popular search engines that can be used for searching for anything on the internet.
Google Analytics
Google analytics is a web analytics platform offered by Google. It tracks the website traffic and provides necessary reports about website traffic scenario. It is the most widely used web analytics service on the internet. Google analytics services include free and paid services.
Google Webmaster Tool
Google webmaster tool is also known as the Google search console. Google webmaster tool is a free service by Google for the webmasters for checking indexing status of the website links and for optimizing the visibility of the website.
Green Hosting
Green hosting is an Eco-friendly hosting service that incorporates the green technologies for providing hosting services. Green hosting comprises of environment friendly materials and it works towards reducing emissions and optimizes the use of resources.
Guestbook
If you would like your customers to leave comments and reviews on your website, then you can add a specific web page for that known as a guestbook. A guestbook is a web page that collects information like customer name and reviews.
HTML Editor
An HTML editor is a software application designed for crafting and revising webpages. While it’s possible to write HTML code in a basic text editor (such as Notepad, etc.), a dedicated HTML editor provides enhanced ease and expanded functionality.
HackAlert Monitoring
HackAlert is a monitoring service that analyses your website on a daily basis. This service notifies you in case your website is hacked or if there is any malicious code on your website.
High Availability
High availability of a system is its ability to ensure the agreed level of uptime that Is usually higher than the normal period. High availability also signifies the systems that can operate continuously for a long period of time without any failure.
Horizontal Scaling
Horizontal scaling means scaling by adding additional machines to your existing resources or adding additional nodes to the system. For example, scaling from one web server to two or three. Horizontal scaling is to scale wider in order to cope with the website traffic requirements.
.htaccess
.htaccess stands for hypertext access. .htaccess is a configuration file that works with the Apache based web servers. Through .htaccess one can set parameters for a file like setting permissions, blocking some websites or determine if people can link to your pages. .htaccess can also be used for improving your website’s functionality and improving SEO.
HTML
HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. This is the standard language that is used for creating website pages. The web browser receives original HTML through a web server and displays a readable page.
HTTP
HTTP stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol. This protocol is used for transferring hypermedia files like text, images, videos etc. through the internet. It is the base of the world wide web (WWW) and it comprises of interconnected hypertext files.
IIS
IIS, which stands for Internet Information Server, serves as Microsoft’s server-side application software, functioning as a web server and seamlessly integrated within the majority of Windows NT server operating systems. While originally developed for the Windows NT 4 operating system, it is now packaged with all Windows server operating systems. IIS is overseen through a graphical administration console.
IRC
IRC, which stands for Internet Relay Chat, constitutes a live Internet chat system facilitating global user interaction. People from various parts of the world can engage in conversations through IRC. This platform encompasses channels usually dedicated to specific subjects, granting users access to public or private domains for discussions or file sharing. Structured as a network of Internet servers, IRC accommodates connections from individual user client programs. Each user requires an IRC client, a software application that runs on their computer, enabling message exchanges with an IRC server. A widely recognized IRC client program is mIRC.
ISP – Internet Service Provider
An ISP, short for Internet Service Provider, denotes an enterprise that furnishes Internet connectivity through methods like dial-up or alternative data exchange mechanisms (spanning from conventional modem dial-up to DSL, from cable modem broadband to dedicated T1/T3 lines). In addition to access, ISPs might extend offerings like email accounts and web hosting. These providers are sometimes referred to as IAPs, or Internet Access Providers.
Intranet
An intranet denotes a confined computer network for communication within a company or organization, exclusively accessible by the said entity and operating on TCP/IP protocols. Its purpose lies in facilitating internal communication among individuals or work groups, thereby enhancing data-sharing capabilities.
ICANN
ICANN stands for Internet Corporation For Assigned Names And Numbers. This organization brings together the unique identification factors assigned for all computers worldwide so that each computer can communicate with the others. This collaboration enables the internet to perform its functions. ICANN also administers the distribution of internet naming resources and it undertakes certain responsibilities related to the DNS management.
IP Address
‘IP’ stands for Internet Protocol. An IP address is a unique string of numbers and dots that identifies an individual computer connected to the internet. The IP address identifies every computer that uses the internet protocol for communicating over a network.
IMAP
IMAP stands for Internet Message Access Protocol, this is an email retrieval process. A copy of the original email is permanently stored inside the server till it is deleted at the server. This process is preferred by the people who work with multiple computers and email clients for email tracking whenever required.
JavaScript
JavaScript if a programming language through which developers are able to add dynamic content to the website. JavaScript is a client-side technology that runs in the web browser of the user and not on the web server.
Java Applets
Java Applets are the programs created with the Java programming language and they can be included in the HTML page in the same way as the images are included. If you are using a Java-enabled browser in order to view a web page that includes a Java Applet, the code of that applet is transferred to your system and it is executed by the Java virtual machine.
Joomla
Joomla is an open source content management platform for creating websites or blogs. Joomla is a CMS that connects your website to MySQL, MySQLi or PostgreSQL databases for managing the content.
Load balancing
Load balancing is a method that evenly distributes requests across multiple computer devices within a network, preventing any single device from becoming overwhelmed. This technique is crucial for web servers, especially when anticipating the unpredictable volume of simultaneous connections and requests. The application of load balancing contributes to enhancing the efficiency of networks.
Log file
A log file is a document generated by a web server, encompassing entries detailing the activities of a computer and/or application. Every request directed to the server is likewise documented within the log file.
Linux Server
A Linux server is a server that is powered by the Linux operating system. Linux is an open source operating system and it is preferred by many webmasters.
Live Chat Support
A live chat support is a customer service feature through which you can chat with the customer service representatives of the web hosting company at specified time or round the clock. You can discuss your website related issues through live chat support.
Load Balancer
A load balancer is a system that distributes the network resources or application traffic across the servers. Load balancers are utilized for increasing the capacity and reliability of the applications. The incoming network traffic is perfectly distributed by the load balancer across a group of backend servers or server pool.
MIME – Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions
MIME, an acronym for Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions, is a communication protocol enabling the transmission of diverse data forms (ranging from binary files and audio to video and graphics) as email attachments over the Internet. Presently, the majority of email clients provide support for MIME functionality.
Mirror Site
A Mirror Site serves as a precise replica of an existing website. It serves the purpose of alleviating server strain on the hosting location of the original site, particularly during instances of excessive traffic. This measure enhances the accessibility of the primary site. Additionally, mirror sites are employed to heighten access speeds, especially when these duplicates are spread across different geographic locations.
Managed Hosting
Managed web hosting is a web hosting platform where the web hosting company manages the processes like software upgrades, configuration changes, system administration tasks etc. In this type of hosting, the web hosting company provides support and assistance to the clients in terms of their web hosting package. Managed hosting is ideal for the webmasters who are not comfortable managing their web hosting account.
Malware
Malware is a harmful software that aims at damaging or disabling your website, computer or network.
Mailing List
Mailing list is the list of email addresses stored together. You can send common emails to the email addresses in your mailing list at one go.
Money Back Guarantee
This is a guarantee provided by the web hosting company which means that in case you are not satisfied with the web hosting services, the web hosting company will return your payment. However, a money back guarantee is subjected to the terms and conditions issued by the web hosting company.
MySQL
MySQL is an open source database that can be operated with various applications that you install on your website. Through MySQL you can store information in an encrypted form and retrieve it whenever required.
MX Record
MX record stands for Mail Exchange Record. This record signifies the mail server that is entitled to receive the email messages for a domain. MX record is stored within the DNS system.
NOC – Network Operations Center
NOC, short for Network Operations Center, designates the physical environment housing networking hardware and an organization’s servers. It also functions as the hub where administrators and technical support teams oversee the monitoring of server(s) and telecommunication network(s).
Nameserver
Name servers manage and direct internet traffic flow. When you input a website name into your browser and press Enter, a sequence of actions unfolds where your browser deciphers the sought-after website and directs your traffic to the appropriate web server. Positioned at the heart of this sequence, the name server maintains a repository of records detailing the locations of various websites.
Network protocol
A network protocol is a predefined set of regulations enabling the establishment of connections and data interchange among multiple devices connected within a network.
OS Virtualization
OS Virtualization, or Operating System-level virtualization, represents a technology that partitions and segregates server resources, separating processes that operate within the same system at the level of the operating system.
Office 365
Office 365 is developed by Microsoft and it is a subscription platform that provides access to the Microsoft Office applications along with offering other productivity services over the internet. Office 365 offers productivity software and other related services to the subscribers. With Office 365, users can use the Microsoft Office apps on Windows and MacOS. It also provides Microsoft’s cloud storage space service OneDrive and grants 60 Skype minutes for a month.
On Page Optimization
On page optimization is the practice of optimizing the individual website pages in order to gain a higher search engine ranking, for better search engine visibility and for gaining more targeted and genuine traffic. On page optimization covers both, the website content and the HTML source code of the website pages.
Operating System
Operating System or OS is the platform that supports your website functions. The choice of operating system is based on some specific features. In web hosting one can choose from Linux and Windows operating system for the web hosting package.
osCommerce
osCommerce is an ecommerce and online store management platform. osCommerce can be installed on any type of web server that operates on PHP and MySQL and it is easy to use. osCommerce is open source and free and it is available under General Public License.
Overselling
Like the name suggests, overselling is selling more services than the web hosting company can actually deliver. This means selling web hosting space to the customer. Overselling is not ethical as it may slow down the customer website due to inadequate resources.
Proxy Server
A proxy server operates as a feature within computer networks, enabling the execution of indirect requests to various network services. The process unfolds as follows: the client establishes a connection with the proxy server and petitions a resource situated on a separate server. Subsequently, the proxy server either establishes a connection with the specified server to acquire resources or directly provides the resource from its cache (if available), bypassing communication with the designated server.
POP3
POP2, or Post Office Protocol version 2, serves as a means employed by client programs (email clients) for retrieving electronic messages from a POP3 server. During the process of connecting to the mail server to fetch your emails, these messages are downloaded from the mail server to your local storage on your hard disk.
Parked domain
A parked domain is a domain linked to your cPanel account, lacking its distinct content. Instead, it directs to your primary domain. In essence, if users attempt to access your parked domain, they will be automatically “redirected” to your main domain.
Plugin
A plugin is a software component that enhances the capabilities of a program. When it comes to WordPress users, plugins serve as an optimal means to augment their website’s functionality while seamlessly integrating with the content management system. They can introduce an array of features, spanning from thwarting spam to optimizing website structure and incorporating eCommerce capabilities.
Perl
Perl stands for Practical Extraction Reporting Language. This is the most popular programming language used by the web developers. Perl is known to have the best text manipulation capacities and it is best suited for web development purposes.
PHP
PHP is an open source scripting language for creating dynamic content. PHP functions by embedding the code directly into the HTML of the website page.
phpMyAdmin
phpMyAdmin is an open source platform created in the PHP language that handles the administration of MySQL over the internet. phpMyAdmin can execute various tasks like creating databases, modifying or deleting databases, fields, tables or rows, executing SQL queries and it also manages users and user permissions.
Plesk
Plesk is an efficient control panel that is offered for both Windows and Linux hosting services. Plesk enables you to easily manage your web hosting account including applications, files, emails etc.
POP
POP stands for Post Office Protocol. This process is used for retrieving the messages from an email server and authenticating them. You can also use a client email application with POP like Thunderbird, Microsoft Outlook etc. in order to view your email messages.
Raster graphic
A raster graphic, also referred to as a “bitmapped graphic,” stands in contrast to vector graphics. These graphics are stored in programs as a matrix of picture elements, or pixels, arranged in rows and columns. Unlike vector graphics, raster graphics encounter challenges when resized, potentially leading to graphic distortion. Shrinking the file typically doesn’t compromise quality, but enlarging a bitmap image can result in a jagged and pixelated appearance. Raster-based graphics are commonly recognized by their formats such as .BMP, .TIF, .GIF, and .JPG.
Raw logs
Raw logs, also known as server logs, are files generated automatically by a server and encompass comprehensive data concerning site visitors. These records encompass details like user IP addresses, access timestamps, data transfer amounts, requested files, and more. These logs are instrumental for tasks such as troubleshooting and traffic analysis.
Redirect
A website redirect involves directing a URL to a different page. This tool proves valuable when a website transitions to a new domain or during a content audit that leads to page removal or consolidation. Configuring website redirects is frequently achievable through your cPanel, serving as an effective approach to evade encountering 404 error pages.
Responsive
Responsive web design represents a design methodology aimed at guaranteeing a visually appealing presentation of a web page across diverse device categories and screen dimensions. Given the ubiquitous nature of smartphones in most individuals’ lives, responsive websites have evolved into the standard. This approach ensures uniform content and page components for all visitors, regardless of their device. The alteration in content and image sizing and arrangement is what adapts in response to varying screen sizes.
RAID
RAID stands for Redundant Array Of Independent Disks. RAID is the process of storing the same data at different places on multiple hard disks. This process safeguards your website data on many locations so that the data can be retrieved in case of failure. It I s important to note that redundancy is not ensured by all the RAID levels.
Raw Log Files
The raw log files are complete and detailed server logs about a particular account. These logs are mostly important for debugging or for processing third party programs or services.
Reseller Hosting
Reseller hosting is the type of hosting where the user (reseller) can resell hosting space to his/her clients. The reseller can provide every client with their own control panel. The reseller purchases the web hosting company’s services and sells them to customers for earning a profit.
SPF (Sender Policy Framework)
Sender Policy Framework (SPF) functions as a deterrent against spammers attempting to fabricate messages that masquerade as being sent from users of a different domain. SPF operates by employing DNS records that delineate the authorized mail servers and IP addresses within a domain permitted to dispatch email messages. SPF is frequently employed in tandem with DKIM for enhanced email security.
SQL
SQL, which can be pronounced as “see-kwell” or articulated as individual letters, stands for Structured Query Language. This programming language is harnessed for the purpose of querying, retrieving, and altering data within a database.
Shared IP
A shared IP, in contrast to a dedicated IP address, is an address allocated to an entire server and shared among numerous users. Advantages include cost-effectiveness for hosting a site on a shared IP. However, drawbacks entail the possibility of server IP blacklisting if any user engages in spamming, leading to repercussions for all associated accounts.
Shopping cart
A shopping cart software facilitates users (visitors) in perusing a web catalog, selecting desired products, adjusting their choices by adding or removing items, computing costs, reviewing selections, and eventually placing orders. These carts can either be sold separately as standalone software or integrated into e-commerce packages furnished by hosting companies.
Spamming
Spamming entails the distribution of an excessive volume of unnecessary commercial messages or advertisements to a cluster of recipients, often through email (although it can extend to online chat rooms, message boards, and mobile phones via m-spam). Engaging in spamming is widely regarded as a severe breach of internet manners and is subject to penalties. The act of sending spam may even lead to the cancellation of a hosting account, with no recourse for compensation.
Streaming Media
Streaming media refers to video or audio content that can be promptly played without requiring prior download to the user’s device. However, streaming media entails significant consumption of network resources and server capabilities. The prevalent file formats suitable for streaming encompass .mp3, .avi, .ram, .ra, .au, .aiff, .flv, and more.
Subdomain
A subdomain, also referred to as a third-level domain in DNS hierarchy, constitutes a segment of a larger domain name. For instance, in the domain name support.yourdomainname.com, “support” serves as a subdomain of the yourdomainname.com domain. The potential for fourth- and fifth-level domains, among others, is virtually limitless. Each subdomain can comprise up to 63 characters, while the total length of the entire domain name should not exceed 255 characters. Typically, subdomains are employed to allocate names to specific departments or to segment a website into sections with brief and memorable titles.
Server
A server is a system where your website resides. A server is usually owned by the web hosting company. The server delivers your website content on the world wide web.
Search Engine Optimization
Search engine optimization is the process of optimizing the website pages for getting more traffic through organic search. It is the technique of working on the right keywords for your website and improving the search engine rank of the website.
SFTP
SFTP stands for Secure File Transfer Protocol. This is a network protocol that enables data transfer through a single connection using a secured shell protocol. SFTP is a separate file transfer protocol that is executed with SSH and works over a secure connection.
Shared Hosting
Shared hosting is a type of hosting where multiple websites are hosted on one server. It is an affordable form of hosting. Every shared hosting customer has a limit over the server resources like disk space, bandwidth etc. according to the shared hosting package.
Sitelock Basic
Sitelock ensures complete website security. It performs monthly malware scans, guards your website against hacking attacks and identifies thefts. Sitelock provides website trust seals and does daily security scanning of website pages.
Sitemap
A sitemap displays the list of all the pages of the website that are accessible to the crawlers and to the visitors.
Sitemap Generation
Sitemap generation is a service that makes sure that all the crawling search engines like Google, Yahoo, Bing etc. are informed of your website content along with your website links.
Site Access Reports
Site Access Reports are the graphical reports that transform the raw access logs into manageable and readable reports. Through these reports the webmasters can easily understand the website traffic trends and make better decisions for the website.
SLA
SLA stands for Service Level Agreement. This is the agreement made with the web hosting company or with other organizations. The web hosting company or the other organization you are in contract with lays out the terms and conditions of the agreement. Usually SLA comprises of rules for duration of service, scope, web hosting guidelines, terms about services provided etc.
SMTP
SMTP stands for Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. This is an internet based standard for sending and receiving emails.
SME
SME stands for Small-To-Medium Enterprises. SME signifies startups, new businesses and mid size organizations.
Softaculous
Softaculous is an auto installer that is used for installing various scripts and applications. Softaculous works with control panels like cPanel, Plesk, Webuzo, DirectAdmin etc. Softaculous is a commercial script library and you will find numerous scripts that can be used for the functioning of your website.
Spam
These are the bulk emails or messages sent to you without being asked for and from illegitimate sources. Usually these messages are sent to sell something. If you purchase a web hosting account and start spamming, then you can get yourself banned and lose your web hosting package.
Spam Filter
Spam filter is an email filter that is used for identifying the spam emails. A spam filter utilizes many advanced and statistical analysis methods on the email headers and the main content of the email in order to spot the spam emails.
SSH
SSH stands for Secure Sockets Shell, this is a protocol that provides the administrators a secure way of accessing a remote computer. It is a secure method of file transfer.
SSL
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. SSL is an encryption that enables people to make secure transactions online. If you own an ecommerce website, you will need an SSL in order to accept payments online in a secure way. If a website is secured with SSL, the website address will start with ‘HTTPS’. Google recommends having an SSL certificate installed on your website and it also helps in improving the search engine ranking of the website.
Server Side Includes
Server Side Includes is also known as SSI, this platform enables the web developers to add HTML comments to the pages that can deliver many benefits to the website. This comprises of header / footer includes or the implementation of a dynamic server side script.
Sub-Domain
A sub-domain is a website domain that is a part of the primary main domain. A sub-domain can have its own unique content. For instance, your website blog can be hosted on a sub-domain of your website and if your website name is mywebsite.com, your blog sub-domain can be blog.mywebsite.com.
TCP/IP
Telnet serves as a terminal emulation application, enabling remote logins to other internet-connected computers that you have permission to access. This permits you to utilize programs and data that the remote owner has shared, simulating the experience as if it were your own local computer. Operating on your system, Telnet establishes a connection between your PC and a network server. It incorporates a command-line interface through which you can input commands.
Telnet
Telnet serves as a terminal emulation application, enabling remote logins to other internet-connected computers that you have permission to access. This permits you to utilize programs and data that the remote owner has shared, simulating the experience as if it were your own local computer. Operating on your system, Telnet establishes a connection between your PC and a network server. It incorporates a command-line interface through which you can input commands.
TLD
TLD stands for Top Level Domain. TLD is the last segment of a domain name that follows after the dot ‘.’. For example in the website URL – www.mywebsitename.com, ‘.com’ is the TLD. TLDs are of two types – generic TLDs like .com, .net etc. and country specific TLDs like .uk, .usa, .co.in etc.
Trial Period
Some web hosting companies offer a free trial period where you can avail the web hosting package and services for free for a certain period of time. If you like the web hosting services you can purchase the web hosting package or you can opt out after the trial period. Web hosting companies have terms and conditions laid out for the trial period.
Traffic Distributor
A traffic distributor enables the faster processing of requests and manages simultaneous threads without any failure. With the help of a traffic distributor you can ensure perfect management of the workloads.
UNIX
Unix, trademarked as UNIX, emerges as a multiuser, multitasking operating system (OS) celebrated for its flexibility and adaptability. Emerging in the 1970s, Unix holds the distinction of being among the pioneering OSes constructed in the C programming language. Since its inception, the Unix OS and its subsequent iterations have significantly impacted the computer and electronics sector. They have ushered in portability, stability, and interoperability across a diverse spectrum of environments and device categories.
URL – Uniform Resource Locator
Uniform Resource Locator, abbreviated as URL, stands as an online address denoting documents or other resources within the Internet. It’s comprised of these constituents: protocol://host/location. The initial component (protocol) specifies the active protocol (including major types like http://, ftp://, mailto://, telnet://, etc.), the subsequent component identifies the host name or IP address, and the last segment denotes the document’s location (path to the file). The protocol is delimited from the host name or IP address by “://”. Subsequently, directories are distinguished from the host (domain) name via “/”.
Unmanaged hosting
Unmanaged server hosting essentially signifies that you wield complete authority over your website. However, in this unmanaged setup, the onus of ensuring site security, optimization, maintenance, and updates rests with you. It’s important to note that while you do possess access to customer service for queries and assistance, the core responsibilities remain within your domain.
Unlimited Hosting
The term ‘Unlimited’ hosting states that the web hosting package provides unlimited resources like disk space, bandwidth etc. However, there are terms and conditions to unlimited hosting packages. Unlimited hosting plans are recommended for small and medium size companies.
Uptime
Uptime is the amount of time when a server is up and running without any interruptions. You must look for a web hosting service that provides an uptime of at least 99.95%. Uptime of your website means that if your website is up and the visitors can access it and use it perfectly.
Vector-graphics
Vector graphics, also known as object-oriented graphics, portray digital images through points, lines, and various geometric entities. These software applications store images using mathematical representations, enabling seamless resizing without any degradation. Vector graphics employ computer algorithms to define shapes, lines, animations, and more. Together with raster graphics, they form the foundational structures for digital imagery.
Vertical Scaling
Through vertical scaling one can increase the capacity of the existing virtual server by adding additional resources. For instance, you can add processing power to a server for making it fast.
Virtual Datacenter
A virtual datacenter is basically a pool of cloud infrastructure resources that are specifically designed for enterprise business requirements. The resources provided in a virtual datacenter incorporate memory, network, connectivity, bandwidth, storage, backup solutions etc.
VPS Hosting
A virtual private server is a physical server that is virtually partitioned. Every virtual private server has dedicated resources. VPS server is equivalent to a dedicated server and is available at an affordable cost. VPS hosting is Linux based and Windows based, you can also opt for managed or un-managed VPS hosting services.
WHM
WHM, an abbreviation for Web Host Manager, serves as a control panel that empowers you to oversee numerous websites from a single location. For individuals overseeing multiple websites, the inconvenience of repeatedly logging in and out of various cPanel accounts can be burdensome. Utilizing a web host manager can significantly streamline your tasks, saving time and alleviating hassles to enhance overall efficiency.
WHOIS
WHOIS represents a network protocol and a client/server mechanism utilized for retrieving details about the owner of a domain name. Typically, this information encompasses contact details of the domain name registrant, administrative, technical, and billing contacts, alongside particulars about the domain name registrar, status, nameservers, creation and expiration dates, and more.
WYSIWYG
WYSIWYG, abbreviated as “What You See Is What You Get,” denotes an editing approach where the content displayed during editing precisely mirrors the eventual outcome.
Web hosting
When a cheap web hosting provider designates a portion of a web server to store files for a website, they are effectively hosting the website. This process facilitates online access to the files constituting a website, including its code, images, and more. Essentially, every website you’ve encountered online is hosted on a server.
Web page
A web page is a single document or file that is part of a larger website and is accessible on the World Wide Web. It is typically written in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) and can contain various elements such as text, images, links, multimedia, and interactive features. Web pages are viewed using web browsers, and users can navigate between different web pages by clicking on hyperlinks or URLs. A collection of interconnected web pages forms a website.
Web server
A web server is a software application accountable for delivering webpages in response to clients’ requests. Apache and Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS) stand as the two most widely recognized web server options.
Webmaster
A webmaster, alternatively known as a web developer or site administrator, holds the responsibility for overseeing, designing, and updating a website.
Website
A website is a collection of related web pages and multimedia content that are accessible on the internet through a common domain name or URL (Uniform Resource Locator). It serves as a digital platform for sharing information, providing services, communicating, and engaging with visitors. Websites can encompass a wide range of purposes, from personal blogs and informational sites to e-commerce stores, social media platforms, educational portals, and more. The content on a website can include text, images, videos, interactive elements, and links to other web pages.
Website builder
A website builder is a software application crafted to simplify the process of creating a website, catering even to individuals without coding knowledge. While using a website builder often involves sacrificing intricacy and adaptability for affordability and user-friendliness, many website owners find this tradeoff to be highly advantageous. Leveraging a website builder enables beginners to assemble a basic website swiftly, often within a matter of hours, or even minutes in certain instances.
Webmail
Webmail is the direct access to your emails. You can login to your webmail through your control panel and you can check the emails without the need of any third party software.
Website Backup
Website backup is the process of backing up your website data in order to safeguard the data and maintain a copy of the data in case of system failure, cyber attack or any other disaster. Some web hosting companies offer website backup services as a part of the web hosting package.
Website Migration
Website migration is the process of transferring a website from one web hosting company to the other. This move comprises of the migration of all the important website files to the new web host. It is important to schedule website migration at an appropriate time so that your visitors or customers are not affected.
Web Hosting
Web hosting is a platform on which your website is hosted and made live so that it can be viewed and accessed on the world wide web. The website owner can buy the website hosting space according to his/her website requirements. Along with the web hosting package, the web hosting company also provides support and customer care services for the smooth functioning of the customer’s websites.
Web Traffic
Web traffic is basically the number of visitors coming to your website, it also signifies the volume of data sent and received by the visitors coming to your website. Web traffic does not comprise of the traffic through bots. Web traffic to a website is determined by the visitors coming to a website and the number of pages they visit.
Windows Server
A Windows server is a server powered by the Windows operating system. Usually, webmasters opt for Windows based hosting if they would like to use certain Windows features or run ASP.NET, MSSQL based apps.
Windows Hosting
The Windows hosting platform is based on the Windows operating system. This hosting service offers Windows specific technologies like ASP, .Net, MSSQL, FrontPage, Visual Basic etc. Windows hosting provides the Plesk control panel for managing the website functions.
WordPress
WordPress is one of the most popularly used free blogging and website building platform and a content management system. WordPress is based on PHP and MySQL. WordPress incorporates a huge number of plugins, extensions and themes to customize the website. You can also run various addons and utilities on WordPress.
Zen Cart
Zen cart is a PHP based online store management platform that utilizes the MySQL database and HTML components. Zen Cart supports various languages and currencies for managing the online store effectively.
Zimbra
The Zimbra Collaboration Suite (ZCS) is a collaboration software suite that comprises of an email server and a web client. Zimbra is an open source email platform that offers email services, calendaring and enterprise applications. Zimbra connects the end users to share information and perform activities in their private cloud.
