When an agency or company offers hosting services, they are offering to store, serve, and maintain the files and code for your website or portal. They allocate space and resources on their server so that your site is visible and available to the public. When we talk about hosting your site, we’re essentially talking about leasing a virtual “storefront” so users can visit your website and interact with your company. Let’s use a restaurant as a real-world example. The restaurant building itself contains tables, chairs, a kitchen, bathrooms, and possibly an event space (your website). In order for this building to function and be accessible to the public, you will need to put it on a plot of land that provides the resources to be able to run the building, electricity, plumbing, overall acreage, etc (the server). The cost to rent out the land will be determined by how much space and amenities you require (hosting services). You could choose to place your restaurant on land you already own, but this can present its own set of challenges. The great thing about working with a hosting provider is that they provide server support and security for your website just like a dependable landlord would for your leased space. If the server where your site is hosted goes down (these things happen, but not too often, thankfully) the website hosting service will work quickly to get your site online again. They also provide security to help avoid malicious activity like site hacks.