Hosting

Web Servers and Hosting Fundamentals Web servers are the gatekeepers of the internet. They run software that listens for requests from browsers and returns web pages, images, or data. A hosting plan combines a server with space for your files, a way to connect a domain, and the tools you need to keep your site online. What is a web server? It is a computer program (like nginx, Apache, or IIS) and the machine that runs it. It handles requests, serves content, and enforces security settings. You typically rent or own the hardware and install the software you need, while the hosting provider takes care of power, network, and basic maintenance. ...

Content Management Systems: Choosing, Customizing, Maintaining Choosing a content management system (CMS) can feel overwhelming. The right choice fits your goals, your team, and your budget. A good CMS helps you publish consistently, manage media, and scale as your site grows. Start with clear needs, then compare options that balance ease of use with flexibility. Choosing a CMS Ask practical questions first. What content will you publish—articles, products, tutorials, or docs? How many authors will edit pages, and do you need multilingual support? Do you want a hosted service or full control on your own server? Consider long‑term needs like security, performance, and search visibility. ...

E-commerce Platforms: Building Scalable Online Stores Online stores often start small, but growth brings more traffic, more products, and more orders. A scalable platform keeps pages fast, orders reliable, and inventory accurate, even during peak seasons. The goal is to separate concerns, automate routine work, and maintain strong security while you expand. Choosing the right platform Your choice affects speed, flexibility, and upkeep. Monolithic systems bundle frontend and backend, quick to start, but can slow as needs grow. Headless or API-first stacks separate data and logic from the user interface, allowing fast, device-friendly experiences. Cloud hosting and microservices can scale with demand, but require planning, monitoring, and automation. ...

Content Management Systems Choosing the Right Tool Choosing a content management system is a decision that shapes how you publish, organize, and update your site. The right tool fits your goals, your team, and your budget. This guide helps you compare options and pick what works well in practice. Understand your needs Start by listing the content you publish, how often you update, and who will manage the site. Consider: ...

CMS Comparison: WordPress, Drupal, and Beyond Choosing a CMS can feel overwhelming. WordPress remains the default for many small sites and blogs. Drupal shines when you need a strong content model, complex permissions, and long-term scalability. Beyond these two, Craft CMS and headless options offer design freedom and API access for modern workflows. To pick a path, start with a few questions: What is the site’s goal? How technical is the team? Do you value speed, security, or a tailored content model? Where will the site live, and how will you update content? ...

E-Commerce Platforms: Building Scalable Online Stores As shoppers move across devices, a scalable store needs a platform that can grow with demand. The goal is to handle traffic spikes, large catalogs, and new payment methods without slowing down. Choosing the right platform Growth expectations: visitors, orders, and seasonality Catalog size and product variants Custom checkout or third-party integrations Time to market and team skills Budget and total cost of ownership Architectural ideas to scale A modern store often uses API-first design to separate frontend from backend. ...

Web Servers: Performance, Security, and Reliability A solid web server balances speed, safety, and steady uptime. It does not rely on a single trick. Instead, it uses simple choices that work together. The goal is fast pages for users and predictable behavior for your systems. Performance depends on how requests are handled and how data moves. Start with a clear plan for content delivery, caching, and protocol use. Static files load faster, while dynamic pages need smart processing queues. Lightweight servers, proper threading, and good file limits help avoid slow responses during traffic spikes. ...

Web Servers and How They Work A web server is software that waits for requests from browsers. It can serve static files such as HTML, images, and styles, or run programs to create pages on the fly. The server talks with clients using the HTTP protocol and is usually reachable on ports 80 (HTTP) and 443 (HTTPS). How a request travels The user types a domain. DNS translates it to an IP address. The browser opens a TCP connection to that address. The browser sends an HTTP request, for example GET /index.html HTTP/1.1 with a Host header. The server processes the request and sends a response, including a status code and content. The connection can be closed or kept open for more requests. What a web server does ...

Web Servers and Hosting: Performance, Security, and Uptime Web servers sit at the core of every online project. The right hosting setup balances speed, security, and reliable uptime. This guide shares practical ideas you can apply, from small blogs to growing apps. Performance matters. Start with essentials: Choose a data center close to your audience to reduce latency. Use SSD storage and up-to-date software stacks; enable caching and compression. Serve static content via a CDN and optimize database queries to keep pages fast. Security cannot be an afterthought. Use TLS certificates from trusted providers and enforce strong encryption. Keep all software updated to patch flaws. Harden access with SSH keys, disable password logins, and restrict admin interfaces. Implement a firewall, monitor for anomalies, and run regular security scans. ...

Content Delivery Networks Accelerating Global Sites A content delivery network (CDN) keeps copies of your site’s static files on servers around the world. When a user visits, their browser downloads assets from a nearby server, cutting travel distance and reducing latency. In practice, a CDN uses edge locations, caching rules, and a clear origin. The core idea is simple: bring content closer to people. How CDNs work The origin server hosts your main site content. The CDN stores copies of popular assets on many edge servers. When a user requests a file, the CDN serves it from the nearest edge location. If the asset isn’t cached yet, the CDN fetches it from the origin and stores a copy for next requests. What to cache ...