When have you found yourself in a position wherein you need to demonstrate your local project on the web to a person who is not part of your own network? Like having a big secret and no one to share with. It’s possible to explain, but it would be more effective to let the other person see. It can save your life if you expose the localhost. Keep reading to find out more about Localhost to internet.

There are a few tools that you can use. Which tool is most used? Ngrok. You can think of it as a VIP card for your host to enter the limelight on the internet. Your local project can be made public with just a few command after installation. That’s it! It’s done!

You might ask, “But how about security?” you might ask. It’s a good question. Your local environment is too important for anyone to be dancing in. Tools like Ngrok allow you to use https and set authentication. Be careful: power is not without responsibility. Be aware of who has access to your public localhost.

Localtunnel, another handy tool. Lightweight and does what it says. Localtunnel can be installed using npm. Then, you simply run the command Localtunnel with your port. An URL is created. This tool is useful to quickly test and demo a website.

SSH tunneling is for command-line fans. You can create an SSH-tunnel by binding your localhost host to a distant server. You can use tech to make magic potions. You’ll need to be a bit technical but this game is for you if your passion lies in the mechanics.

I’ll tell you a joke to make things more fun. At a developers’ meeting I explained this wonderful new feature. My hands were moving as I tried my best to explain it. The only thing I saw were blank looks. “Why not show us?” asked someone. Duh, right? It was a quick process to share the link. Visuals are always more effective than words!

Exposing your localhost will simplify collaboration with colleagues who are miles away. Imagine being able to tweak code while collaborating with a colleague located thousands of miles away. She can see and interact with localhost in real-time. Like having her there looking over your shoulders, without any elbow nudging.

After using any of these great tools, remember to always close down the URLs that are public. Such tools are like leaving your home door unlocked. It’s not fair to sacrifice convenience for carelessness.

A gem for web developers is Pagekite. Pagekite is created for DIY enthusiasts. Pagekite stands somewhere in the middle of being both highly customizable and extremely easy to use. Think of Pagekite as a Swiss Army knife to expose localhost.

A pressing question? ISPs throttle bandwidth. While exposing your host can go as smoothly as butter, your connection may act up and make it feel like you’re driving a Ferrari through rush-hour traffic. Be sure to check for speed and stability of the network before you go live.

As we are at it, sprinkle a few best practices. Verify regularly what services are available and at which access level. Avoid exposing unnecessary services, which may allow unwanted people to enter. Automate workflows if at all possible by using scripts. It’s important to treat this as a fine art.

Exposing your localhost can be a great way to improve collaboration and debugging. You’ll also get better presentations. After you learn how to do it, you will wonder why you didn’t use it sooner. Now, get ready, open the virtual curtain and show the world the magic that you create on localhost.