Web hosting refers to the internet hosting service that provides individuals organizations and users with online systems for storing information, images, video or any content accessible via the Web. The companies that supply server space for storage of Web sites on the Internet and other addtional services like Internet connectivity, or Web site creation.

Companies can host its own site which would be expensive. A hosting service enables many companies to share the cost of a fast Internet connection for serving files. Thus web hosting can be conducted in-house by the owner of the Website or it can be outsourced to a Web presence provider (WPP).
Initially Web hosting service was only an add-on service offered by the Internet Service Providers (ISP) but now it has grown into a highly dedicated and specialized business operated by major telecom companies. Many ISP's like America Online allow the subscribers a small amount of server space to host a personal Web Page while other commercial ISPs charge the user depending on the complexity of the site being hosted.

WPPs are companies having one or more data-center facilities that are connected to the Internet. The web hosting service provided by the WPPs varies with respect to service quality and cost. Some providers may have a room in the basement and a tier-1(T1) line connected to the local ISP while others have hosting centers consisting of redundant fiber paths foe high speed Internet connections , redundant electrical power sources , a dry pipe fire suppression system available for 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

There are two types of hosting virtual hosting and domain hosting. Companies providing Virtual hosting entails that the services will be transparent and that each Website will have its own domain name and set of e-mail addresses. They may also let you have their own virtual server, the appearance that you are controlling a server that is dedicated entirely to your site.
If the companies provide a dedicated server machine that is dedicated to the traffic of the Website it is called dedicated hosting. Some companies purchase their own server and place them on a site that provides fast access to the Internet. When a Web site consists of complex common gateway interface (CGI) scripts and proprietary programs and receives a large number of visitors, dedicated hosting service is the best solution.