When you first venture into the world of web hosting, there are a number of terms that seem like a foreign language to you, yet are essential at times for you to have at least a passing knowledge of. Many time people sign up for the wrong types of web hosting packages simply because they don’t know what half the offered features are, or what they can do. Let’s take a quick look at a dozen of the more common terms, and understand what they are.

1. Unix/Linux Hosting – The operating systems on which the major percentage of hosting platforms are built. They are open source, which enhances their appeal.

2. Virtual Private Servers (VPS) – A step up from shared hosting, where a server is partitioned virtually for distinct web spaces

3. Domain Registrar – The place at which the web address is sold. Many web hosts sell domains, but it’s usually a good idea to buy from a dedicated domain sales site, and host elsewhere.

4. Cloud Hosting – Using a number of servers hosted elsewhere to create a large pool of server capability for server resources. Google and Amazon are good examples of this. This is a good way to make sure resources are available as well as manage costs.

5. Reseller Hosting – The practice of allowing small companies to sell web hosting using their own brand, while the main host is in the background, handling the technical and maintenance part of things.

6. Ruby On Rails Hosting – Provides hosting for this particular application development framework. Not all hosts offer this.

7. Enterprise Hosting – Serious business hosting for very large companies specializing in scalability, uptime and customization.

8. Email Hosting – The practice of hosting a company’s email accounts. This alone accounts for much of the web hosting business online.

9. Online Backups – As the term itself indicates, it’s the practice of backing up their servers in the event of a catastrophe. Don’t rely on hosts to do this for you. Make your own backups. You may also want to employ remote online backup services.

10. Database Management – A valuable, managed service most hosts now offer; it allows the customer to run a database, while the host administers the database for them.

11. Site Monitoring – The practice of making sure your site is up and notifying you if it is not. Downtime can be ruinous to a business, both in lost sales and reputation, so it can be a good safeguard to have in place.

12. Website Builders – Many web hosts offer simple what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG) site builders to help put up a simple website. These have evolved in the last few years, and can render up a simple site quite easily.

There are many more terms, to be sure, but a little grasp of these twelve will give you at least something to work with when it comes to choosing your own web hosting plan to meet your site’s needs.