Let us start with the word "Web". The word Web is defined as being online or on the Internet. "Hosting" is like renting an apartment in an apartment complex.The apartment symbolizes the web space which your website resides in. The apartment complex symbolizes the server which your web space is in.

Web hosting allows your web site to be connected to the internet at a high speed on a server so its content can be viewed by the public. You are "renting" space on a server so your web site can be viewed 24x7 on the internet. A web hosting company leases space for your web site on it's secure servers, high speed network, and provides 24x7 support.

For personal use or for business, web hosting is needed for anyone who wants to establish an online presence. In order to have an online presence, you need to first start with a domain name.