What does the term "shared hosting" in web hosting typically mean?

The term "shared hosting" in web hosting specifically refers to a model where multiple websites are hosted on the same server. This arrangement allows several users to share the server's resources, such as CPU, memory, and disk space. This sharing is beneficial for individuals and small businesses because it significantly reduces the overall cost of hosting; the expenses associated with maintaining and running the server are distributed among all the websites hosted on it.

Shared hosting is ideal for websites that have moderate traffic, as the resources provided by the server are often sufficient to handle the needs of smaller or less resource-intensive sites. Furthermore, this type of hosting typically comes with user-friendly management tools, making it accessible even for those without extensive technical knowledge.

The other choices do not accurately describe shared hosting. Having only one website on a server does not align with the concept of shared hosting. Hosting being entirely free is misleading, as shared hosting typically incurs some cost. Lastly, stating that each site has its own dedicated server describes a different hosting model known as dedicated hosting, where a single server is allocated exclusively for one website.