| PHP is a computer programming language that was | | | | product catalog on your website, having enough disk |
| designed for producing dynamic web pages. Since it is | | | | space is paramount to handle these massive files. |
| a widely used general purpose scripting language for | | | | There are some web hosting companies that will |
| web development, it generally runs on a web server | | | | penalize you for going over your file limits and it can |
| using the PHP code for input to create the output of | | | | end up being more costly for the additional disk |
| web pages. | | | | space than if you would have purchased a larger plan |
| There are many advantages and limits to having PHP | | | | amount originally. When it comes to disk space, |
| support web hosting. If you are looking for web | | | | estimating higher is always better since it gives you |
| hosting, you will have to examine very carefully both | | | | room to grow without having to be concerned with |
| the benefits and disadvantages to it to figure out if it | | | | running out of space and costing you more in the |
| is right for you and what you plan on doing for your | | | | end. |
| website in the future. Many concerns come to mind | | | | The cost of bandwidth is one of the more expensive |
| when you are deciding if it is the right solution for | | | | aspects of owning your own website. When running |
| you. | | | | an online store you will need a lot of data transfer |
| The first main consideration is to ensure that your | | | | and can cost you more money if you exceed your |
| database will be supported with a PHP hosting server. | | | | limits with your company. One thing you want to |
| You will not be able to use Windows developed | | | | avoid is having your website suspended for going |
| applications, such as Active Server Pages (.ASP), on | | | | over your bandwidth limit, giving the public an |
| your website since PHP is based in Unix, an entirely | | | | unprofessional appearance about your company. At |
| different operating system. In order for .ASP to run | | | | least 10 gigabytes of allotted transfer minimum is |
| and function correctly as they should, you must be | | | | recommended to avoid any future problems for your |
| using a Windows server. Development tools such as | | | | website. |
| Visual Basic or the .Net framework are not supported | | | | Email addresses for your website is important, with |
| on a PHP server and must also be run on a Windows | | | | the costs adding up if you have over 30 employees |
| platform. If these applications are important to your | | | | or if you plan on organizing your incoming email with |
| website or may be useful to you in the future, you | | | | separate email addresses. Some companies can |
| will want to search elsewhere than a PHP web | | | | charge up to $5 more per email account, so be sure |
| hosting server. | | | | you are getting the web hosting package that is right |
| Making sure enough features are available for your | | | | for you. |
| website is imperative for the development and | | | | Future growth of your website is a principal point |
| growth of your web pages. There is so much | | | | when deciding on a PHP web hosting package. By |
| competition for eCommerce today in the market, | | | | making sure that your hosting company will be able |
| you will want to explore all the options to ensure | | | | accommodate you in the future, advancement and |
| that you will not be paying more money above what | | | | use of further applications will make your website run |
| you have already allocated for your monthly hosting | | | | and look better to the public. Advance planning will |
| charges. Be certain that you have all the features | | | | save you time, money and even anxiety later on if |
| you need at a price that is reasonable for you. In the | | | | you suddenly need to switch your website's platform |
| end, as a bare minimum, you should have a host that | | | | or upgrade your web pages. For this reason, it is a |
| will provide a shopping cart, SSL certificate, mailing list | | | | beneficial choice for webmasters who use PHP, CGI |
| software and unlimited databases. Paying extra for | | | | and Perl on their websites. |
| additional applications is not a good way to start off | | | | There are some PHP web hosting packages that are |
| your website. | | | | less expensive, depending on the features that you |
| Adequate disk space is essential and an important | | | | want to pay for; otherwise you would be better off |
| aspect that many people underestimate for their | | | | choosing a package that is bundled with the |
| website. For those who are planning on having a | | | | attributes beneficial for you. |
| shopping cart, customer database and a large | | | | |