While searching for good web hosting, the site owners should be aware of some technical terms of web hosting. Proper ideas of these keywords helps you to search the most suitable web host for your website. I have already given a list of keywords and their basic meaning in one of my articles. Now it’s time to add some new terms in that list.

• Dedicated Server : A more expensive type of account in which the web hosting company provides you with an entire hosting setup including your own server hardware that only you can use. This usually means a much faster loading time for your site because the entire computer is “dedicated” to running the server software. This is different from most other hosting accounts in which your web site will share space on a server with many other web sites, called a virtual server. A dedicated server is generally used by the web sites that require higher availability and higher data transfer rates.

• POP Email Accounts : POP (Post Office Protocol) is an actual e-mail account on your web host’s e-mail server. Think of each POP account as a unique email address (abhishekkumar@abhisays.com, contact@abhisays.com, etc.) Before you choose a specific hosting plan, you should know exactly how many email accounts are required to meet your specific needs.

• NameServer : When you hear the term “host” in the Internet world, it is referring to an Internet company that has the required servers and software to connect domain names to (IP) Internet Protocol numbers so that your site can be viewed by the public when they type your domain in their browser window. Basically this is where you house your site, and you usually have to pay a monthly or annual fee for this service. For example I am paying hostgator.com for hosting my blog.

• HTTP Protocol : The protocol for transferring hypertext files across the Internet. Requires a HTTP client program on one end, and an HTTP server program on the other end. HTTP is the most important protocol used in the World Wide Web (WWW).

• Internet Service Provider (ISP) : A company or institution that provides access to the Internet in some form, usually for money. They will usually allow users to dial up through a modem, DSL, or cable connection to view the information on the Internet Access is via SLIP, PPP, or TCP/IP.

• Secure Socket Layer (SSL) : This is a protocol designed by Netscape Communications to enable encrypted, authenticated communications across the Internet. It is mainly used in communications between web browsers and web servers. URL’s that begin with “https” indicate that an SSL connection will be used. SSL provides 3 important things: Privacy, Authentication, and Message Integrity. In an SSL connection each side of the connection must have a Security Certificate, which each side’s software sends to the other. Each side then encrypts what it sends using information from both its own and the other side’s Certificate, ensuring that only the intended recipient can decrypt it, and that the other side can be sure the data came from the place it claims to have come from, and that the message has not been tampered with.

• Support : Telephone or e-mail technical support provided to a web hosting company’s customers. When there’s a problem with your site or your e-mail, you want to be able to get an answer promptly by e-mail or on the phone. Some hosting companies like HostGator offer email only support, telephone support, or a combination of both. Some hosting companies provide 24hr 7 days a week support (24/7).