In web hosting, I/O (Input/Output) limits refer to the maximum amount of data that can be read from or written to your server's storage system per second. This is a crucial performance metric that affects how quickly your website can process data requests.

Think of I/O operations as the conversation between your website and its storage. Every time a visitor accesses your site, the server must:

• Read files (HTML, images, databases)
• Write data (user uploads, form submissions)
• Process database queries

Why I/O limits matter: If your website exceeds these limits, you may experience:

• Slow page loading times
• Database connection errors
• Failed file uploads
• General performance degradation

Common scenarios that consume I/O resources include:

• High-traffic WordPress sites
• E-commerce platforms processing orders
• Websites with frequent database updates
• Sites hosting large media files

To optimize I/O usage, consider:

• Implementing caching solutions
• Optimizing database queries
• Using a Content Delivery Network (CDN)
• Choosing appropriate hosting plans with adequate I/O allocations

Most hosting providers measure I/O in IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) or MB/s (megabytes per second). Understanding your website's specific needs will help you select the right hosting solution and avoid performance bottlenecks related to I/O limitations.