Is there a difference between web hosting and web server?

[Debbie C]

I am looking to transfer my website from a friends to a server of my own. Not sure what the difference is between hosting and server. Also would appreciate any recommendations.

[Saad A]

A web hosting service is a type of Internet hosting service that allows individuals and organizations to provide their own website accessible via the World Wide Web. Web hosts are companies that provide space on a server they own for use by their clients as well as providing Internet connectivity, typically in a data center. Web hosts can also provide data center space and connectivity to the Internet for servers they do not own to be located in their data center, called colocation.



The term web server can mean one of two things:
1. A computer program that is responsible for accepting HTTP requests from web clients, which are known as web browsers, and serving them HTTP responses along with optional data contents, which usually are web pages such as HTML documents and linked objects (images, etc.).
2. A computer that runs a computer program as described above.

[bigbird]

Web hosting means some host your web application, provide a platform for you.
Web server is the computer which have your web application.
These are different things. You can have a server your own, and host your Web application in your own server.

If you have a server by your own, you have to have a dedicated IP address. So outside world can access your server.

Good luck,
peng

Running Web Services @ http://www.eptop.com

[ITMAN]

Web Server- a server were your web page resides.
Web Hosting- leaving your web server on so others can access your website. (Kinda like storage, you pay a company to keep your stuff and they watch over it.)

If your want to host your own web site, leave your web server on.