Web Hosting and your own CGI scripts.

CGI (Common Gateway Interface) are small programming scripts that add functionality and interactivity to your Web pages. Most Web hosting providers have libraries of standard CGI scripts you can use for free. If you plan to advance past "standard" you will need to find a web hosting provider that allows you to install scripts. Many will not.
Web Hosting - resources

Do Web Hosting provider provide monthly/daily usage statistics?

Most web hosting providers do provide monthly/daily reports. Ask to see them. You will notice a large variety in the usefulness and layout of these usage reports from one provider to another.

Here are some summery factors you will want to consider in choosing a web hosting:

• Tools: Do they provide beginner friendly web design tools, or do you need to provide your own web design tools or service. If they do provide tools, are they flexible enough to meet your needs? Do they assume knowledge of HTML?

• Support: Are they available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Are they available by phone, or only by email?

• Commitment: How long is the subscription you are signing up for - can you cancel at any time?

• Storage: How much space do you receive for your site?

• Email: Does the web hosting include email (POP3) accounts, or are those separate

• Reliability: Do they make any guarantees about "uptime" - the percentage of time per month your site will be available to customers?

Most people will choose standard web site hosting, but if you plan to have a lot of traffic or do not want to share a server, you can choose "dedicated web hosting" which gives you your own dedicated server machine that the Web Hosting provider