webhosted

Webhosted refers to software, data, or services that are hosted on remote servers accessible over the internet rather than on a user's local device. The term is typically used to describe applications or content delivered via a web server, whether the infrastructure is owned by the provider or a third party.

In practice, webhosting encompasses several models, including shared hosting, virtual private servers, dedicated servers, and cloud hosting. Providers manage the hardware, networking, and often software updates, while users access resources via web protocols and APIs. Webhosted solutions contrast with self-hosted setups, where organizations run services on their own premises.

Common use cases include websites, web applications, content management systems, databases, and API endpoints. Cloud-based offerings expand to platform as a service and software as a service, enabling scaling, pay-as-you-go pricing, and remote collaboration.

Advantages include reduced upfront costs, scalability, global availability, and simplified maintenance. Limitations involve dependency on the hosting provider, data governance and privacy concerns, potential vendor lock-in, and performance variability during peak demand or outages.

Security and reliability depend on proper configuration, encryption, access controls, backups, and compliance with applicable regulations. Users should consider data location, uptime SLAs, disaster recovery, and backup strategies when choosing a webhosted solution.

History and evolution: the web environment evolved from commercial hosting in the 1990s to cloud-based and managed services in the 2000s and 2010s. Today, "webhosted" typically signals hosted services delivered online rather than software installed on local hardware.