Despite the fact that websites can be accessed from anywhere in the world
, the files you view online all have to physically be located on a machine (aka server) that is always connected to the internet in order to be accessible. Web hosts provide website owners with a place to put their websites in order to make them easily accessible at all times.
Technically, you could host your own website on your home computer if you had a constant internet connection, the bandwidth to support multiple viewers at once, and had the technical savvy to set it up (ps. it isn't simple), but it would be very difficult to ensure the security of any other information you stored on that computer. Web hosting services provide users with space on a server that has a fast and constant connection to the internet. Security on these servers is much greater than any personal computer, and renting space on a server with a web host is cheap and easy.
Hosting companies generally charge anywhere from four to twenty dollars a month for server space and support. Shop around when you look for a web host and read reviews to make sure you are getting the best service for the best price. Most web hosting services will provide you with free domain name registration when you agree to pay their monthly hosting fee. Once you select and register your domain name and your hosting service provider, you are ready to start building your website! With the support of a great hosting company you can rest assured that your website will be readily available to your customers twenty-four hours a day, which means they can shop in their pajamas and you can make money while you sleep.