Support article
What Is an Inode in a Hosting Plan?
An inode, also known as an index node, is a data structure that stores information about a file or directory in a file system. Learn why inodes matter for hosting, how to monitor them, and their impact on website performance.
Definition of an inode in hosting
An inode, also known as an index node, is a data structure used to store information about a file or directory in a file system. Every file or directory on a server has its own inode, which contains essential data such as the file’s location, its size, and its creation date.
The Importance of Inodes in a Hosting Plan
Inodes are essential for the proper functioning of hosting services, as they directly affect storage capacity, loading speed, and file management. In general, all plans have reasonable limits on the number of inodes. For that reason, exceeding those limits can cause your website to stop working. You can check the inode limit for your hosting plan
How to Monitor and Manage Inodes in a Hosting Plan
You can always view the number of inodes in your control panel. The update to the number you’ll see in your control panel is not immediate. Allow 24 hours to review the changes you’ve made.
The Impact of Inodes on Website Performance
An appropriate number of inodes can improve loading speed. The fewer inodes your website has, the faster it will be. For that reason, delete any file or folder that serves no purpose on your website.
Tips for Managing Inodes Efficiently on Shared Hosting
Generally, a large number of inodes comes from email accumulation. Ask yourself, is it possible to delete emails from the server?
Another option is to check the temporary folders of your hosting service. It’s possible that a huge number of files that are never deleted are being stored in these folders.
The same can happen in directories dedicated to generating your website’s cache. It’s a good practice to clear the contents as part of your website maintenance.