Web Application Hosting Server: Everything You Need to Know

Web applications are at the forefront of everything we do, from online shopping and social media to managing finances and collaborating with colleagues. In this blog, we will explore everything you need to know about web application hosting servers. We will look at the key differences between servers used for web hosting and those used for running web applications. We’ll also look at the types of hosting services like cPanel Web Hosting, and WordPress Hosting.

Web Hosting Servers

When you sign up for web hosting, your provider’s servers are where your site’s files and data are stored so your website can be live on the internet. When you visit a website your web browser sends a request to the hosting server, which then retrieves the necessary files and sends them back to your browser, displaying the content and allowing you to access the website.

Web hosting servers share similar characteristics with application servers and typically consist of the following:

Hardware, Software & Operating Systems:

The hardware includes the physical server machines, storage devices such as Solid-State Drives, and networking equipment.

Both types of servers run an operating system, for example Linux, which provides the underlying platform for running web server software.

The software is the core component that handles incoming requests and serves web content. Popular web server software includes Apache and Nginx. Additionally, websites rely on databases to manage, store, and retrieve site data with MySQL being among the most widely used.

Differences Between Web Application and Website Servers:

The main difference is that web hosting servers are primarily designed to serve static content for traditional websites. While they can also host web applications, they may not provide the same support, resources, and optimization options as dedicated web application servers.

When it comes to web hosting types, in a shared hosting environment for example, websites can share a server’s resources including CPU, RAM, storage, and bandwidth. This helps keep the cost of these hosting plans down.

This also means that customers typically have limited control over server configurations and settings, as the hosting provider manages the underlying infrastructure, which may not work for complex web applications.

A website hosting server, particularly with shared plans, is a more budget-friendly solution. Conversely, using a web application server tends to be more expensive due to its additional functionality which requires more resources.

In summary, web application hosting servers are specifically designed and optimized to handle the complexities of running dynamic web applications, providing an environment that supports server-side programming languages, database integration, scalability, and advanced security features.

In contrast, web hosting servers are primarily focused on serving static content for traditional websites, although they can also host web applications that have need fewer dedicated resources and optimization.

Why Use a Web Hosting Server

Apart from them being how users can access your website, there are several reasons to use standard web hosting for your business, as opposed to a web application server.

If your website primarily consists of static content or you have a relatively simple web application with low resource requirements, a general web hosting server can be sufficient and more cost-effective. Plans offered by web hosting providers are more affordable than dedicated web application hosting servers, making them suitable for individuals and small businesses.

Web hosting providers take care of server maintenance, security updates, and other administrative tasks, which can be beneficial for those with limited technical knowledge.

For personal projects and small business websites, a web hosting server can provide performance and functionality without the need for the advanced features of a web application hosting server.

Similarly, if your website doesn’t require specific server configurations, custom software installations, or advanced programming, a standard web hosting server will be more than enough for your needs.

Types of Web Hosting

When it comes to the type of hosting for your site, two of the most popular options are cPanel and WordPress Hosting.

cPanel Hosting

cPanel is a popular web hosting control panel that uses an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) for managing hosting accounts, domains, email accounts, databases, and other aspects of web hosting. It is commonly used by web hosting providers and is often bundled with shared hosting plans.

Shared cPanel Hosting from Hosted.com allows you to easily manage your website, including file transfers, directory structures, and website backups. It also provides tools for managing domain names, DNS (Domain Name System) settings, domain parking, and forwarding.

The cPanel dashboard also includes features for creating and managing email accounts, configuring email clients, and managing email lists. It provides a user-friendly interface for creating, managing, and accessing databases.

You also get installers like Softaculous that simplify the installation process for popular web applications like WordPress and many others.

While cPanel is primarily used with web hosting servers, it can also be used with web application hosting servers, particularly for tasks like domain management, email management, and basic application management.

However, for more advanced web application management and deployment, dedicated tools and interfaces provided by the web application hosting platform may be more suitable. Keep in mind that they come with a steep learning curve and are more often used by those with the coding and technical skills needed to keep web apps and servers running correctly.

WordPress Hosting

WordPress is a popular Content Management System (CMS) used for creating and managing websites. WordPress Hosting is a specific type of web hosting service designed specifically for sites built and running on the WordPress platform.

This type of hosting is optimized for the specific requirements of WordPress, ensuring better performance, security, and ease of management. WordPress hosting typically includes the following features:

WordPress hosting providers configure the server environment including having the latest versions of PHP and MySQL, to be compatible with and optimized for running WordPress efficiently. WordPress hosting services often include caching mechanisms and performance optimization tools to improve the loading speed and overall performance of WordPress websites.

Hosted.com WordPress Hosting plans come with 1-click installs of the WordPress core software and popular plugins, along with automatic updates to ensure you have the latest versions of everything installed and up to date.

Hosted.com also offers the security features you need to protect your site and users from threats and online fraud. This includes malware scanning and removal, free SSL (Security Sockets Layer) Certificates, firewalls, and daily backups. They often also provide additional services, where they take care of WordPress and plugin updates, backups, security, and other maintenance tasks.

In the context of web application hosting servers, WordPress can be hosted and run on these servers as well. However, the benefits of using a web application hosting server for WordPress may be limited, as WordPress is a lightweight CMS that does not necessarily require the advanced features and scalability provided by web application hosting servers.

Unless the WordPress site is expected to handle high traffic or has complex integration requirements, hosting on one isn’t necessary.

What Is A Web Application Hosting Server?

Web hosting servers, in general, are servers that are designed to store website files and data so they can be accessed by users on the Internet. However, there are servers specifically designed and optimized for hosting web applications, as opposed to traditional websites. These servers are often called Web Application Servers or Application Servers.

While standard web servers primarily focus on serving content and handling HTTP requests, web application servers are designed to handle the more complex requirements of web applications. They provide an environment for running and managing the application code, processing user input, interacting with databases, and generating dynamic content on the fly.

Web application servers are built to support various server-side programming languages and frameworks like Java and Python. They provide an application container or runtime environment that hosts and manages the lifecycle of web applications, handling tasks like application deployment, resource allocation, and load balancing.

They often include built-in support for integrating with different database management systems, facilitating data persistence, consistency, and retrieval for web applications.

Like web hosting, application servers offer security features, such as authentication, authorization, data encryption, and protection against common vulnerabilities like SQL injection and cross-site scripting.

Many web application servers are designed to scale horizontally by distributing the application load across multiple servers, enabling them to handle high traffic and ensuring high availability.

Additionally, they come with tools for monitoring application performance, managing application deployments, and administering server configurations.

While it’s possible to host web applications on regular web servers, using a dedicated application server can provide better performance, scalability, and features specifically tailored for running and managing complex web applications.

Reasons To Use A Web Application Hosting Server

The reasons to use a web application server directly correlate with how they are designed.

Web applications usually need extensive server-side processing, database interactions, and dynamic content generation. This tends to be very resource-heavy, and these servers are better suited to handle the workload.

As mentioned earlier, application servers are designed with native support for server-side programming languages and frameworks, making them ideal for applications built using them.

When it comes to scaling an application, they distribute the load across multiple server instances. This is especially necessary for applications that have high traffic and need consistent availability.

Apps that handle sensitive user personal and financial information need air-tight security. Web application servers often include built-in security features like authentication, authorization, data encryption, and protection against threats and hackers, ensuring better protection.

Finally, with a dedicated web application hosting server, you have complete control over the server environment, allowing you to customize the server configuration, install required software components, and fine-tune performance settings.

Choosing the Right Hosting Solution

Choosing the right hosting solution is how you can ensure your site performs optimally, scales with your business, and has all the security you need. Here are some key things to consider when selecting the best hosting provider and solution for your needs.

Complexity

If your website consists primarily of static content or you have a relatively simple web application with low resource requirements, a general web hosting server for shared or WordPress hosting will be the best and most cost-effective way to go.

If your web application involves extensive server-side processing, database interactions, and dynamic content generation, a web application hosting server is better suited to handle these workloads efficiently.

Programming and Framework

General web hosting servers can support various programming languages and frameworks, but they may not provide optimized environments or advanced features for specific technologies.

On the other hand, should you require specific coding to be compatible with your application, Web application servers are designed to provide native support and optimization for them.

Traffic and Scalability

If your application is expected to experience high traffic or requires high availability and scalability, a web application hosting server is better equipped to handle these demands by allowing horizontal scaling across multiple server instances.

For personal blogs, small business websites, and other sites with low to moderate traffic volumes, a web hosting server can provide enough resources to maintain performance and stability. However, should you need to, Hosted.com also allows you to easily scale your hosting plan with your site as it grows and traffic increases, alongside our 99.9% uptime guarantee.

Security

All Hosted.com Web Hosting plans come with the best in security features like free SSL Certificates, firewalls, and regular backups. And of course, you get antivirus and anti-spam tools. Additionally, automated updates and patching make sure that you are safe from any vulnerabilities caused by outdated software and plugins.

Web application hosting servers often include built-in security features like authentication, authorization, data encryption, and protection against common web vulnerabilities, making them suitable for applications with stringent security or compliance requirements.

Control and Customization

With most web hosting services, customers typically have limited control over server configurations, as the hosting provider manages the underlying infrastructure. This is especially beneficial for those with limited technical knowledge of server management and maintenance.

Web application hosting servers often provide complete control over the server environment, allowing you to customize configurations, install required software components, and fine-tune performance settings. This, however, does require an advanced level of skill and knowledge.

Cost

Web hosting providers’ plans are generally more affordable, making them suitable for small businesses or personal sites, even those on a smaller budget.

Conversely, application hosting servers typically come at a much higher cost due to the dedicated resources and advanced features they provide.

Technical Expertise

Web hosting providers take care of server maintenance, security updates, and other administrative tasks, which can be beneficial for those with limited technical expertise or resources. Whereas Web application hosting servers require more expertise to manage and maintain, as you have complete control over the server environment.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Web application hosting servers are specifically designed and optimized for running web applications that require direct server-side programming, complex database integration, and advanced features.
2. Web hosting servers are primarily focused on serving content for websites, offering a simpler, more cost-effective solution compared to web application hosting servers.
3. Web application hosting servers provide exclusive resources, a dedicated environment, and the ability to tailor the server to the specific needs of the web application.
4. Web application hosting servers are recommended for resource-intensive applications that require advanced features and customization, while web hosting servers are suitable for websites with lower resource demands.
5. cPanel is a popular web hosting control panel used for managing various aspects of web hosting, while WordPress hosting services are optimized for running WordPress websites efficiently.
6. Choosing the right hosting solution depends on complexity, programming languages and frameworks, scalability and traffic, security, desired level of control and customization, budget, and the need for managed services or technical expertise.

FAQs

Other Blogs of Interest:

– Squarespace vs WordPress (2024 Comparison)

– cPanel vs WordPress Hosting -What is the Difference

– CloudLinux and Hosted.com: Bringing You the Best in Web Hosting Server Performance

– cPanel and Web Hosting with Hosted.com

– What is Web Hosting – Everything You Need to Know