Web Hosting & Deployment
Here’s a comprehensive guide to Web Hosting & Deployment, which are essential steps in making your website or web application accessible to users over the internet.
π 1. What is Web Hosting?
Web hosting is a service that stores your website's files (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images, databases) on a server connected to the internet so that users can access your site by typing in your domain name.
π 2. What is Deployment?
Deployment refers to the process of uploading your web application or website to a hosting server so it becomes accessible to users online. It includes setting up environments, transferring files, configuring the domain, and ensuring the site runs correctly.
π§± 3. Types of Web Hosting
| Hosting Type | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Hosting | Multiple sites share one server | Beginners, low traffic sites |
| VPS (Virtual Private Server) | Virtual servers with dedicated resources | Growing sites, moderate traffic |
| Dedicated Hosting | Entire server for one site | Large, high-traffic websites |
| Cloud Hosting | Scalable hosting across multiple servers | Scalability, flexibility |
| Managed Hosting | Hosting with maintenance handled | WordPress or CMS-based sites |
| Static Site Hosting | Optimized for static HTML/CSS/JS | Simple or JAMstack sites |
| Serverless Hosting | No server management; deploy functions | Apps with dynamic backend logic |
π ️ 4. Common Web Hosting Providers
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Shared/Cloud Hosting: Bluehost, HostGator, SiteGround, DreamHost
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VPS/Cloud: DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr
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Managed WordPress Hosting: WP Engine, Kinsta
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Static Sites: Netlify, Vercel, GitHub Pages
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Serverless: AWS Lambda, Firebase Functions, Cloudflare Workers
π 5. Website Deployment Methods
a. FTP/SFTP Upload
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Use tools like FileZilla or Cyberduck
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Upload files to your hosting server manually
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Common for shared hosting
b. Git-based Deployment
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Deploy directly from GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket
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Used by platforms like Netlify, Vercel, Heroku
c. CI/CD Pipelines
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Continuous Integration/Deployment tools like GitHub Actions, CircleCI, GitLab CI/CD
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Automates testing, building, and deploying code
d. Command Line Tools
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Tools like
scp,rsync, oraws-clito deploy -
Ideal for developers managing custom servers
π₯️ 6. DNS and Domain Configuration
To point your domain name to your website:
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Buy a Domain (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains)
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Update DNS Records:
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A record: points domain to IP address
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CNAME: alias for subdomains
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MX records: for email services
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Propagate DNS: May take up to 48 hours globally
π 7. SSL Certificates (HTTPS)
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SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encrypts communication
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Free certificates: Let’s Encrypt
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Hosting platforms like Netlify and Vercel offer automatic SSL
π§ͺ 8. Staging vs Production
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Staging Environment: For testing before public release
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Production Environment: Live site that users interact with
Tools like Heroku, Vercel, and Firebase Hosting support staging URLs.
π¦ 9. Database Deployment
If your site uses a database (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB):
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Host database on the same server or separate managed service
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Tools: phpMyAdmin, pgAdmin, or command-line tools
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Use environment variables to manage database credentials securely
π 10. Monitoring and Analytics
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Uptime Monitoring: UptimeRobot, StatusCake
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Performance Monitoring: New Relic, Pingdom
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Analytics: Google Analytics, Plausible, Matomo
⚠️ 11. Common Deployment Issues
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Missing files or paths
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Incorrect file permissions
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DNS propagation delays
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SSL certificate errors
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CORS and API issues
π 12. Best Practices for Hosting & Deployment
✅ Choose a reliable host based on site needs
✅ Always use HTTPS
✅ Set up automated backups
✅ Keep server software updated
✅ Use environment variables for secrets
✅ Monitor performance and uptime
✅ Test on a staging site before deploying to production
π§° 13. Tools for Web Deployment
| Purpose | Tool |
|---|---|
| File Transfer | FileZilla, Cyberduck, scp |
| Static Hosting | Netlify, GitHub Pages, Vercel |
| CI/CD | GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, CircleCI |
| Server Management | cPanel, Plesk, SSH |
| Domain & DNS | Cloudflare, Namecheap DNS, Google Domains |
| Version Control | Git, GitHub, GitLab |
π§π» 14. Example Deployment Workflows
a. Static Site on Netlify
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Push code to GitHub
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Connect Netlify to repo
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Configure build command (e.g.,
npm run build) -
Set deploy directory (e.g.,
/dist,/build) -
Auto-deploy on every push
b. Node.js App on Heroku
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Install Heroku CLI
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Run
heroku create -
Push to Heroku remote
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Use
heroku config:setto set env variables -
Open live app via Heroku dashboard
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