Web hosting glossary
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Bandwidth and storage
Storage is space used by files and data; bandwidth concerns data transferred. Providers may define usage limits differently, so read their terms.
DNS and nameservers
DNS directs your domain to the right services. Nameservers identify the systems that publish your domain’s DNS records.
SSL, TLS, and HTTPS
TLS protects data in transit; HTTPS is the secure web connection visitors use. A certificate does not replace backups or software updates.
Use the terms in context
“Unlimited” and “unmetered” can still be subject to fair-use or resource restrictions. Read the acceptable-use policy rather than interpreting marketing terms literally.
A practical question
If a host mentions CPU or inode limits, ask what happens when you exceed them and how you can monitor usage.
Put this guide to work
Use this short worksheet before making changes or purchasing a service. Keep your answers with your website records so you can revisit them when your needs or contract change.
- Bandwidth and storage: Storage is space used by files and data; bandwidth concerns data transferred. Write down what this means for your own website, identify the information you still need, and verify it using your current account or the relevant provider’s documentation. Do not substitute a general marketing claim for a plan-specific answer.
- DNS and nameservers: DNS directs your domain to the right services. Write down what this means for your own website, identify the information you still need, and verify it using your current account or the relevant provider’s documentation. Do not substitute a general marketing claim for a plan-specific answer.
- SSL, TLS, and HTTPS: TLS protects data in transit; HTTPS is the secure web connection visitors use. Write down what this means for your own website, identify the information you still need, and verify it using your current account or the relevant provider’s documentation. Do not substitute a general marketing claim for a plan-specific answer.
If an answer is uncertain, pause that part of the decision and verify it. For changes to a live site, make a restorable backup first and test the result before deleting the previous configuration.