All of the website files, including all the HTML and CSS files, are uploaded to and kept on a server. Despite what Aria first thought, a server is not someone who brings you food, instead it is a type of computer and when the files are uploaded to it anyone with an internet connection can access your files.
But if anyone can get access and webpages are like food, won’t they eat my food?
No, it was just a comparison to help you understand.
When you visit a website you don’t own it and you haven’t removed it, other people can still visit it at the same time.
When you have a tuna flavoured sachet of food other cats can also be fed tuna flavoured food at the same time.
Mmmm, tuna.
Earlier, we compared websites to books, so imagine the server is like a library. Anyone with a library card can borrow any book from the library and anyone with an internet connection can visit your website.
A Server Holds A File Which Is Copied.
The difference is when you borrow a book from a library no one else can see it until you return it but with a website you see a copy of the version saved on the server. This means many people can see the same website at the same time.
So can we copy bags of cat munchies in the same way?
No, you can’t have infinite food.
Infinite food?
INFINITE FOOD!
Unfortunately, You Can't Make Infinite Munchies
Many people who develop websites pay to rent servers as it is often a cheaper option than buying and maintaining them yourself. You can then save your HTML, CSS and other files onto the server and update them as and when you need to.
In order for people to visit your website, they must know the address which is the domain name, like codingforcats.com. Once your server is set up with the right domain, the address is used to direct people's computers to the right server and the right files.
This is like how you need to get the right section of the library and the right shelf to find a library book. Once your files are on your server and your server is linked to your domain, people can finally see your website and all the hard work you've put into it.