hostof

Hostof is a term used in computing and information technology to denote a relation or extraction of a host component. It is not a standardized term in any single specification, but appears as a descriptive label in documentation and code across various projects. The meaning of hostof tends to vary with context, so definitions are often project-specific.

In URL and network address parsing, hostof commonly refers to extracting the host portion from a web address or network endpoint. In this usage, the host is the domain name or IP address that identifies the target machine. For example, a function or routine labeled hostof might return the host field when given a full URL or network address.

In data modeling and configuration, hostof may denote a relational edge or field indicating that a given entity is hosted by or runs on a particular host. In asset inventories, an application entry may have a hostof link to the machine hosting it. In graph databases or topology diagrams, hostof forms a relation from services to hosts, supporting queries about deployment topology and ownership.

Etymology and usage notes: hostof combines host with of to suggest possession or association. Variants include host_of and hostOf, seen in different codebases or schema definitions. Because hostof is not standardized, its exact semantics depend on the project, and explicit definitions are essential for interoperability.

See also: host, hostname, URL, DNS, deployment topology.