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Linux
To start with selfhosting, you'll learn some basic Linux as you go. Linux is the operating system of choice for servers around the world. Under the hood, most the services we use on a daily basis most likely use linux for some of their infrastructure. They're alot of different versions of Linux, these are called distributions. Different people, groups, or companies develop varying versions of Linux. Most are built off a more limited, stable, distribution of Linux, and then built upon. They're distros (distributions) for selfhosting your own server that make this easier for beginners, like Truenas Community Edition, or Unraid (though Unraid costs money). You can also absolutely run your server on a barebones Linux installation like Debian, Ubuntu Server, or Arch (assuming you already have some experience), if you know your way around the terminal. This website goes over some basics of what a distro is, and what differences they may have. Installation/Basic setup Download the .iso disk image of your chosen distribution. Use an image flashing tool, if on Windows, rufus, on Linux, Balena Etcher, to flash the disk image to a USB flash drive. Take the now bootable USB and plug it into the computer with a drive to install your OS on already plugged in Boot the computer up and enter the boot menu (by spamming the key your bios uses for this, usually F11) Follow the GUI setup or build your OS Once your server is up and running, you will need to run commands to the server. If you used TrueNAS or Unraid, you can just use the webUI terminals. If you went with a base install, you will need to setup SSH (so you can run commands to your server from your own commputer). If you need SSH, you will need the ssh package for your distro, and to configure it. Ideally you also have a larger hard drive, preferablly two of equal size, in your server. You can setup redundancy for your data by using a RAID 1 setup, or a ZFS/XFS setup that uses a parity drive. Once you are done formatting and setting up your drives, you can enable SMB and create shares. SMB allows other authorized computers to access the server's hard drives. You could backup data to your server, transfer data between computers easily, and manage your server's files from your own computer. Your next step will be learning Docker, and choosing a service to setup as your first.

Linux

To start with selfhosting, you'll learn some basic Linux as you go. Linux is the operating system of choice for servers around the world. Under the hood, most the services we use on a daily basis most likely use linux for some of their infrastructure. They're alot of different versions of Linux, these are called distributions. Different people, groups, or companies develop varying versions of Linux. Most are built off a more limited, stable, distribution of Linux, and then built upon. They're distros (distributions) for selfhosting your own server that make this easier for beginners, like Truenas Community Edition, or Unraid (though Unraid costs money). You can also absolutely run your server on a barebones Linux installation like Debian, Ubuntu Server, or Arch (assuming you already have some experience), if you know your way around the terminal.

This website goes over some basics of what a distro is, and what differences they may have.

Installation/Basic setup

Download the .iso disk image of your chosen distribution.
Use an image flashing tool, if on Windows, rufus, on Linux, Balena Etcher, to flash the disk image to a USB flash drive.
Take the now bootable USB and plug it into the computer with a drive to install your OS on already plugged in
Boot the computer up and enter the boot menu (by spamming the key your bios uses for this, usually F11)
Follow the GUI setup or build your OS

Once your server is up and running, you will need to run commands to the server. If you used TrueNAS or Unraid, you can just use the webUI terminals. If you went with a base install, you will need to setup SSH (so you can run commands to your server from your own commputer). If you need SSH, you will need the ssh package for your distro, and to configure it.

Ideally you also have a larger hard drive, preferablly two of equal size, in your server. You can setup redundancy for your data by using a RAID 1 setup, or a ZFS/XFS setup that uses a parity drive. Once you are done formatting and setting up your drives, you can enable SMB and create shares. SMB allows other authorized computers to access the server's hard drives. You could backup data to your server, transfer data between computers easily, and manage your server's files from your own computer.

Your next step will be learning Docker, and choosing a service to setup as your first.