A common feature of numerous web hosting companies' basic tariffs is the inclusion of a limit on website quantity, among other restrictions. It can be challenging to comprehend how this restriction is applied in practice. For instance, can subdomains be used to circumvent this restriction? While it is ideal to clarify the specifics with the hosting provider directly, it can be an arduous process when choosing among multiple host providers. Is there a universal definition of "website" that can provide clarity for this situation?

To summarize, the inquiry regarding what constitutes a "site" is a complex and philosophical one, which ultimately requires clarification from the host. However, it is also important to note that hosts have a financial incentive to maximize profits. Based on my experience with certain hosts, I believe that a "site" refers to a single entity that encompasses all subdomains, even if they exist for navigational purposes (e.g. user1.domain.com, user2.domain.com). If the subdomains have completely different sites with different CMS platforms, then they may be interpreted as separate sites by the host. However, if there is a layer that allows different CMS to function with the same database and display the same information, then it may be considered as a single site. It is advisable to communicate any unique circumstances to the hosting provider for clarity.

On a related note, it is important for website owners to carefully assess their hosting needs and choose a provider that can effectively support them. Factors such as server resources, uptime guarantees, and customer support should be carefully considered before making a decision.

The presence or absence of limits on website quantity is typically specified in the description or terms of a tariff. These limitations are less of an issue when purchasing a VDS or hardware investment since restrictions such as disk space and traffic tend to be more straightforwardly defined.

When choosing a web hosting plan, it's crucial to consider one's website needs and the host's capacity to support them. While price is a factor, it should not be the sole consideration when choosing a hosting provider. Researching the provider's uptime reliability, security protocols, storage capacity, and customer service capabilities can help ensure that one makes an informed decision

This is due in large part to the varying structures and technological distributions of websites—some may be single-page applications, others may be dynamic websites drawing from databases, and yet others may be static HTML sites.

That said, most hosting providers typically consider a "website" as a unique domain (like www.example.com) that points to a distinct set of files/coding structures within your hosting space. This would include the primary domain and the content and files associated with it.

Subdomains (like blog.example.com) are technically part of the main domain (example.com) and are often treated as an extension or a subsection of the main website, rather than a separate website. Depending on your hosting provider's terms, you can usually create multiple subdomains under one main domain, and they might not count towards your website limit.

Addon domains (like www.example2.com) added to the same hosting account, on the other hand, are typically treated as separate websites, because they usually point to different content and have a different primary domain.

That being said, hosting providers can all have their own definitions and terms of use, and they often have different policies about what counts as a separate "website." Therefore, it is always a good idea to check directly with the provider—or at least read their terms carefully—to determine how they handle these restrictions.

The way hosting companies manage and implement their restrictions can be different depending on numerous factors such as the technical infrastructure, policies, and the hosting package itself. Here are few more common aspects you should understand:

Shared Hosting: In shared hosting plans, usually, a "website" refers to each domain or addon domain that has its own content and potentially its own separate databases. Subdomains typically do not count as a new website because they exist under the main domain and often share the same resources.

VPS/Dedicated Servers: When it comes to more advanced hosting plans like VPS (Virtual Private Server) or dedicated server hosting, the definition of a "website" may vary further. Because you have more control over the server environment in these plans, you have flexibility to set up multiple domains or websites as the resources of the server allow.

WordPress Hosting / Managed WordPress: Managed WordPress hosting or specific application hosting solutions (like Joomla, Drupal, etc.) often count each application (WordPress, Joomla, etc.) installation as one website. Most hosting companies provide tools to install these applications automatically, and each installation gets its own unique directory or database which can justify it being considered as a separate "website".

Reseller Hosting: Reseller packages give you the ability to sell hosting to others. In this case, each account you create to sell to your customers may be treated as a 'website.'

As each hosting provider may have a unique approach and internal policy, it is always advisable to verify the details directly with each company when deciding on a plan. Make sure to ask about the number of domains, subdomains, addon domains, and databases allowed with your plan, as well as how each of these counts toward any website limits. Also, it can be beneficial to check their terms of service or FAQs, which often cover this topic.