Final answer:
A host in a network is a computer or device that provides services or resources to other devices on the same network. The growth of hosts is tied to technological advancements and the development of the early internet infrastructure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term host in computer networking refers to B. A computer or device on a network that provides services or resources to other devices on the same network. This can include serving webpages, storing files, or running applications that clients on the network can access. The concept of a host is fundamental to the structure of the internet.
Historically, the number of hosts connected to the internet has grown from about thirty thousand in 1987 to countless millions today. This expansion was fueled by advancements in networking technology, such as the move from dial-up connections using standard phone lines to broadband connections utilizing cable lines and dedicated lines. These changes occurred alongside the advent of online service providers like America Online (AOL), early websites, internet search engines, and commercial internet platforms in the 1990s.