Setup and Deployment

Hosting your website involves preparing files, selecting a hosting provider, connecting your domain, and uploading your project to a live server. This process is known as deployment.

1. Steps to Host a Website

Step 1: Build Your Website

Create your project using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or frameworks like React, Node.js, etc.
Ensure your files are organized, for example:

/project-folder
├── index.html
├── about.html
├── styles.css
├── script.js
└── /images

Step 2: Choose a Hosting Provider

Select a hosting type based on your website:

• Static website: Netlify, Vercel, GitHub Pages
• Dynamic / Full-stack app: Render, Railway, AWS, DigitalOcean
• WordPress site: Bluehost, Hostinger

Step 3: Get a Domain Name

Purchase a domain name (e.g., yourname.com) from:

• Domain registrars like Namecheap, GoDaddy, or Google Domains
• Some hosting providers include a free domain in their plans

Step 4: Connect Domain to Hosting

To link your domain with your hosting server, update the DNS records:

Record Type	Purpose	Example
A Record	Points domain to server IP	example.com → 192.168.1.1
CNAME	Points subdomain to another domain	www → example.com
MX	Handles email routing	mail.example.com

Note: DNS changes can take up to 24–48 hours to fully update (DNS propagation).

Step 5: Upload Website Files

There are several ways to upload your project files:

Option 1: File Manager (via cPanel)

1. Log in to your hosting cPanel.
2. Open File Manager → public_html folder.
3. Upload your files and extract (if zipped).
4. Visit your domain to see your live website.

Option 2: FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

1. Install an FTP client like FileZilla.
2. Enter your FTP credentials from your hosting account.
3. Connect to the server.
4. Drag and drop your website files to the server’s root folder.

Option 3: Git-Based Deployment

For providers like Netlify, Vercel, or Render:

1. Push your project to GitHub / GitLab / Bitbucket.
2. Link your repository to the hosting platform.
3. The platform automatically deploys your site on every push.

2. Deployment for Full-Stack Projects

Frontend + Backend Example

If you built a MERN stack app:

• Frontend (React): Host on Vercel or Netlify.
• Backend (Node.js/Express): Host on Render or Railway.
• Database: Use MongoDB Atlas or Firebase.

Steps:

1. Deploy backend → get API URL (e.g., https://api.render.com).
2. Update frontend .env or config with API URL.
3. Deploy frontend → site connects to live backend.

3. Continuous Deployment (CD)

Most modern hosts like Vercel, Netlify, and Render support automatic deployment:

• Whenever you push new code to GitHub → your live website updates automatically.
  This is known as Continuous Deployment or CI/CD.

4. Verifying Deployment

After deployment:

• Visit your website URL (e.g., https://myproject.netlify.app).
• Check responsiveness and loading speed.
• Test all links, forms, and APIs.
• Enable SSL (HTTPS) from your hosting dashboard.

5. Common Deployment Issues

Issue	Cause	Solution
Site not loading	Wrong DNS setup	Verify A/CNAME records
Files not visible	Uploaded to wrong directory	Use public_html or root folder
Changes not updating	Cached version	Clear cache / redeploy
SSL not working	Not enabled	Activate SSL from dashboard
404 Errors	Wrong paths	Check file names and routes