The public_html folder is the primary directory where you place all files you want to be publicly accessible on your website. Think of it as the front door to your online presence—anything inside this folder can be viewed by visitors through their web browsers.

When someone types your domain name (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com) into their browser, the hosting server automatically looks inside the public_html folder to serve the content. This typically includes:

• HTML files (like index.html or home.php)
• Images, CSS, and JavaScript files
• Media files (videos, audio, PDFs)

It's crucial to never store sensitive files (like configuration files, databases, or private documents) in public_html, as they would become publicly accessible. Always place such files outside this directory, typically in your home folder or a secured subdirectory.

Most hosting control panels (like cPanel) use public_html as the default web root. If you're installing a CMS like WordPress, you would upload its files directly into this folder. Remember: proper organization within public_html helps maintain site performance and security.

For multi-domain hosting, you might have separate public_html folders for each domain or use subdirectories within the main public_html. Check your hosting provider's documentation for their specific structure.