Firebase Hosting Basics

---
name: firebase-hosting-basics
description: >-
  Deploys and configures classic Firebase Hosting for static websites, single-page apps (SPAs), and microservices. Use when deploying static sites/SPAs, setting up custom domains, configuring firebase.json hosting settings (redirects, rewrites, headers, multi-site), or managing preview channels. Don't use for Firebase App Hosting (Next.js/SSR), Auth, Firestore queries/rules, Data Connect, or Crashlytics.
metadata:
  category: Serverless
---

# hosting-basics

This skill provides instructions and references for working with Firebase
Hosting, a fast and secure hosting service for your web app, static and dynamic
content, and microservices.

## Overview

Firebase Hosting provides production-grade web content hosting for developers.
With a single command, you can deploy web apps and serve both static and dynamic
content to a global CDN (content delivery network).

**Key Features:**

- **Fast Content Delivery:** Files are cached on SSDs at CDN edges around the
  world.
- **Secure by Default:** Zero-configuration SSL is built-in.
- **Preview Channels:** View and test changes on temporary preview URLs before
  deploying live.
- **GitHub Integration:** Automate previews and deploys with GitHub Actions.
- **Dynamic Content:** Serve dynamic content and microservices using Cloud
  Functions or Cloud Run.

## Hosting vs App Hosting

**Choose Firebase Hosting if:**

- You are deploying a static site (HTML/CSS/JS).
- You are deploying a simple SPA (React, Vue, etc. without SSR).
- You want full control over the build and deploy process via CLI.

**Choose Firebase App Hosting if:**

- You are using a supported full-stack framework like Next.js or Angular.
- You need Server-Side Rendering (SSR) or ISR.
- You want an automated "git push to deploy" workflow with zero configuration.

## Instructions

### 1. Configuration (`firebase.json`)

For details on configuring Hosting behavior, including public directories,
redirects, rewrites, and headers, see
[configuration.md](references/configuration.md).

### 2. Deploying

For instructions on deploying your site, using preview channels, and managing
releases, see [deploying.md](references/deploying.md).

### 3. Emulation

To test your app locally:

```bash
npx -y firebase-tools@latest emulators:start --only hosting
```

This serves your app at `http://localhost:5000` by default.