In web hosting, bandwidth refers to the maximum amount of data that can be transferred between your website, its visitors, and the server within a specific period, usually measured monthly. Think of it as a digital highway: the wider the bandwidth, the more data (like images, videos, and code) can travel simultaneously without congestion.

Every time someone visits your site, their browser downloads files from your server. This data transfer consumes bandwidth. Key factors affecting usage include:

• Page size (heavier pages use more data per visit).
• Number of visitors (more traffic = more data transferred).
• Media content (streaming video or large downloads are bandwidth-intensive).

Choosing the right bandwidth is crucial. Too little can cause:

• Slow loading times.
• Visitor limits or extra charges.
• Site downtime during traffic spikes.

Most hosting plans offer metered (fixed limit) or unmetered (no hard cap, but fair usage applies) bandwidth. For new sites, start with a scalable plan and monitor usage via your hosting control panel. Optimize with image compression and caching to reduce bandwidth needs and ensure a smooth user experience.