Hosted Software

What Does Hosted Software Mean?

Hosted software refers to software that is installed, hosted and accessed entirely from a remote server or location.

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Hosted software is hosted and managed by the software manufacturer or a third-party vendor. Users can access it globally through the Internet.

Hosted software is also known as software as a service (SaaS), a cloud computing service model.

Techopedia Explains Hosted Software

Hosted software differs from typical software in its installation and accessibility. Unlike most software, which is housed on the user’s machine, hosted software-related data processing and computing is performed on the remote host server. End users can access this data through a compatible Web browser.

Generally, hosted software is provided as a service to end users, who are billed monthly on pay-per-use or per-license fee billing method. Because all programs are installed at a provider’s location, they are managed, upgraded and patched by the provider, ensuring that users always have access to updated, bug-free versions of the software they use.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…