Host

A host is a computer serving as an entry point on a network.

As such, an Internet host is defined by a unique IP domain address (although different ports on the same physical computer can constitute separate hosts). Internet service providers are hosts.

The notion of host suggests a relationship that dates back to the days in which a number of dumb terminals accessed a central computer. The central computer was host to remote terminals, serving up programs and data. Many hosts support multiple users, if not hundreds of users within a organization or on a local network.

URLs:

Mark Lottor's Network Wizards Host Count

Mark Lottor's Domain Survey records the number of registered hosts on the Internet.

Internet Society International Host Distribution

Host data, country by country.

W3E References:

IP address