How To Buy A Domain Name: Domain Registration Guide
What you need to know about domain names, how to choose the right one, and the steps to take to check if a domain name is available and to register your domain.
If you want to start a blog or a new online business, youll need to register a domain name, the name for your website. Getting the right domain for your needs might sound technical at first, but the process is pretty simple.
This domain registration guide will tell you what you need to know about domain name extensions, how to choose the right one for your needs, and the steps youll need to take to check if a domain name is available and to register your domain.
What Is A Domain Website
Similarly, What is domain in a website?
Simply explained, a domain name is a websites name. Its the character that follows @ in an email address or www. in a web address. When someone asks how they can find you online, you normally give them your domain name. Google.com is an example of a domain name.
Also, it is asked, What is difference between a domain and a website?
A domain is a websites name, a URL is how to access to a website, and a website is what visitors view and interact with after they arrive. To put it another way, when you buy a domain, you are purchasing the name for your website, but you must still develop the website.
Secondly, What is domain with example?
Its the name that comes after the @ symbol in email addresses and after the www. symbol in web addresses. The domain name example.com, for example, may point to the physical address 198.102. 434.8. Google.com and Wikipedia.org are two such domain name examples.
Also, Do you need a domain for a website?
A domain name isnt required to have a presence on the internet. Having your own domain name, on the other hand, provides you control over your online identity and the material you publish, and having your own domain is a must-have for developing trust in your brand or company.
People also ask, How do I get a website domain?
Related Questions and Answers
What Restrictions Are There
There are some general rules and restrictions to consider when registering a new domain. Depending on the type of domain, there might also be other restrictions that youll usually be made aware of by the registrar.
General rules and restrictions for registering a domain name:
- You can only use letters, numbers and hyphens. Other forms of punctuation and symbols cannot be used.
- You can use multiple instances of hyphens, but not a double hyphen. You also cant use hyphens at the beginning or end of the domain name.
- Punctuation can only be used for grouping the domains in hierarchies, meaning to separate the domain name from the extension.
- A web address can begin and end in a number, example: 9-5.uk
- Domain names are not case sensitive. This means you can advertise your name using capital letters if you wish. For example 123-REG.CO.UK is the same name as both 123-Reg.co.uk and 123-reg.co.uk.
- Some TLDs allow registration of web addresses containing special characters and accents such as æ, ø and å. These are called IDN .
- A domain name must contain between 2 and 63 characters before the punctuation. Additional rules apply for the different top level domains.
Aside from these general rules and restrictions, make sure to also pay attention to domain specific restrictions.
Now that you know everything there is to know about domain names, including how they work and what extensions are available, go ahead and register your preferred domain at 123 Reg.
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Whois And Rdap Directories
The WHOIS and RDAP directories are public listings of domain names and the people or organizations associated with each name. You can use the directory to find domain owners and IP addresses, as well as postal addresses and telephone numbers.
For privacy, some domain name owners choose to hide their personal information from these directories, just as you might want your personal telephone number to be unlisted in a telephone book.
Now you know the difference between basic web terms and how they all play a part in creating a web presence for businesses and brands. At Google Domains, we want everyone to feel informed, secure and empowered to grow their business online.
Ready to get online? Start searching for your domain name at.
Final Thoughts About How To Register A Domain Name
Once again, registering a domain name is perhaps the easiest part of building your online presence. Its also affordable. And you may save money on web design, hosting, and SSL certificate if you choose a company like Bluehost.
Lastly, its a good idea to think of all the website-related services you need in addition to domain registration. For instance, do you need a website builder? How about a custom domain? And free WordPress installation? You can use these criteria to assess which domain registrars fit your needs beyond only purchasing a domain name.
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Other Domain Name Types
We focused on the different extension types above. The following are the other available structures of domain names:
Second-Level Domain
A second-level domain is below TLDs in the domain name hierarchy. An SLD is the section of a domain name located to the left of the last dot. Take www.hostinger.com, for example hostinger is the SLD, and .com is the TLD.
Some domain name registries use an second-level domain to indicate a specific entity registering. For example, academic institutions in the United Kingdom mostly register websites under .ac.uk.
Subdomain
A subdomain indicates a separate division from a parent domain that still shares the same servers. There is no need to register a subdomain. Technically, the www of most URLs is a subdomain that shows that a site is part of the world wide web.
The most common reason to create subdomains is to organize and divide web content into separate sections. For example, Google uses developers.google.com to provide specific information for developers.
Another use of a subdomain is to create another website with the same name but in different languages. Take Wikipedia as an example it has a separate subdomain for each language. It uses en.wikipedia.org for the English version and es.wikipedia.org for the Spanish one.
Free Domain
A free web address often follows the same structure as subdomains. For example, instead of hostingertutorials.com, the domain would be hostingertutorials.wordpress.com or hostingertutorials.blogspot.com.
Choose Your Top Level Domain Extension Carefully
A Top-Level Domain extension is the last part of your URL that comes directly after the name of your site. Some of the most popular TLDs are .com, .org, and .net.
Among all the TLDs, .com is often a popular choice. However, if .com is taken, its not the end of the world.
Other popular TLDs such as .xyz, .shop, .club, .online, .art, .inc, and even .party are becoming increasingly common. TLDs like .marketing and .technology allow you to go with something more relevant to your industry. The usage of ccTLDs is also an extremely popular option. In recent years, more technology startups are using .io , .ai , and .co , for example. Ultimately, youll want to choose a domain name extension that is cohesive with your website and signals credibility.
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What Is A Domain Name
A domain name is a user-friendly address unique to every website. The domain name is what differentiates one website from another. Imagine the domain name as a fingerprint. No two people have the same fingerprint. Its the same way with websites.
A domain name is often called a website address. It is typically created to make internet protocol more accessible to visitors and easier to remember.
An IP address, for instance, is made up of strings of numeric addresses assigned to every computer. But its relatively difficult to remember random numbers set up like 143.145.167.189. A domain name makes it easier for people to reach the exact location of your website without bothering about its numeric address.
As earlier stated, domain names are unique. When someone types it into the URL space of their browser, it will lead them straight to your website.
Use A Domain Name Generator
If youre not the creative type, you can use a domain name generator to help spark some ideas. Simply enter in some words or phrases that describe your brand or website, and these tools will give you a list of ideas that you can then check for availability.
Bring your brand to life with your own website. Design from scratch, connect a domain, analyze traffic, and optimize for SEO.
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How Do Domain Names Work
Domain names are unique digital addresses that are easy for people to remember and use. When you enter a URL, your device sends a request to the global Domain Name System network of web hosts. The DNS network then finds the unique IP address associated with the typed-in domain name and sends the device to that virtual destination, or website.
When someone enters your domain name into their browser, they will be directed to your web page.
A domain name is unique to each website, and no two websites or businesses share the same domain name. For example, and are two separate entities. Thats because they end in different top-level domains more on that later.
The basic building blocks of a URL break down like this:
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http://protocol
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website.com or website.orgroot domain
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websitedomain name
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.com, .edu, .gov.orgtop-level domain
Personal care brand s root domain is . So in this example, byhumankind is the domain name and .com is the TLD.
Note that some domains include www and others dont. You might also see things like shop.website.com or blog.website.com. The words blog and shop are subdomains that act as separate entities and destinations from your main domain.
When you want to build an ecommerce website with your own domain , youll need to do so through a domain registrar. Fortunately, there are many domain name registrars to choose from, including here at Shopify.
Why People Visit Websites
When it comes to websites vs .domains, in most cases, people will go to a website for two main reasons:
- To do: Online visitors surf the web for a variety of motivations such as killing time, looking for entertainment, seeking to buy an item or service, communicating with others, interacting with social media, or paying a bill.
- To learn: We have access to the entirety of the worlds knowledge through a small device we carry in our pockets. People visiting websites may do so to find a movie time, clear up an argument, or locate the address of the nearest gas station.
At its essence, a website is your way of communicating who your business is to consumers that you will likely never meet in person. When creating a website, it is important that you know your audience and cater your website towards them, towards what they want and need. A website is not only meant to attract people to whatever it is you are trying to sell but to help convince them that they need whatever that is. Therefore, it should be organized in such a way that it is pleasing to the eye, easy and intuitive to navigate, and clearly conveys what you are providing.
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Why Domains And Good Domain Names Are Important
If you are looking to create a website, you will need to register a domain and find a suitable domain name. Doing this accomplishes several things:
- Reinforces your branding: Odds are, you will employ a URL that includes your websites name or some clever take on the name. This will be the first thing your potential customers see and has the potential to be the word that comes to mind when they think about your particular good or service.
- Makes the website easier to recall: Shorter and catchier is generally better, but even a longer yet unique domain name can help stick in a persons head.
- Conveying what you are all about: A domain name should help you sell your good or service in a single word or phrase. This has the ability to encapsulate everything it is you provide and can help clue in consumers on what to expect from your website.
- SEO optimization: SEO relies on keywords for rankings. A good domain name should ping keywords that are associated with searches for your good or service.
What Is A Website Domain
A domain name is a string that identifies a space within the Internet allocated to your website.
Since every website âlivesâ on some type of a server somewhere in the world, we need to have a specific way of accessing it, one way or another. Servers are another type of machine, and like any other machine, they donât like working with words. They prefer numbers. At least one IP address gets assigned to every server this of this as the serverâs address. If your website is the only website hosted on a web server, you could use the IP address to access it.
Take liquidweb.com for example. Itâs definitely easier to say or remember than the IP address of the server itâs hosted on, which is 67.225.187.61.
Now try to imagine having to remember strings of numbers for every web page that comes to your mind. Difficult for a human, easy for a server.
Additionally, a single IP address can host multiple different websites. To access them, youâd need to remember extra identifiable information about each of those websites. It would be almost as if having to remember GPS coordinates for every location youâre trying to reach instead of knowing the street address itâs located on. Itâs inconvenient, at the least. Thatâs where the website domain comes in.
But how are an IP address and a domain name connected?
Struggling with business success online?
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Make Sure Your Domain Is Easy To Pronounce And Spell
You probably want your domain name to be original and memorable. However, novelty isnt always a good thing. If you modify the spelling of a common word to get that .com extension , you might confuse your audience.
While word-of-mouth advertising is powerful, it only works when people can actually pronounce your domain. This also makes the name easier to remember, increasing the odds that people will visit and pass the site along to their networks.
In recent years, more businesses have opted for 4-letter combinations of easily pronounceable domains. In addition to being incredibly memorable, this is also due to the ability for domains to hold aftermarket value. That is, if the business fails, the domain can still be sold. One very popular 4-letter pattern is c-v-c-v , exemplified by Snap and Meta.
What Are The Parts Of A Domain Name
Domain names are typically broken up into two or three parts, each separated by a dot. When read right-to-left, the identifiers in domain names go from most general to most specific. The section to the right of the last dot in a domain name is the . These include the generic TLDs such as .com, .net, and .org, as well as country-specific TLDs like .uk and .jp.
To the left of the TLD is the second-level domain and if there is anything to the left of the 2LD, it is called the third-level domain . Lets look at a couple of examples:
For Googles US domain name, google.com:
- .com is the TLD
- google is the 2LD
But for Google UKs domain name, google.co.uk:
- .com is the TLD
- .co* is the 2LD
- google is the 3LD
*In this case, the 2LD indicates the type of organization that registered the domain .
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How Do New Domains Get Released
Now, lets assume ea new extensions has been approved is about to hit the market. Typically, there are three stages to the registration process:
Sunrise: This stage gives trademark holders a chance to register their domain names first. The idea is that they get the chance to protect their brand early. Often, the sunrise period will allow trademark holders to block registration of domains containing their trademark. This means they dont have to worry about remembering to renew and manage lots of domains, but still ensures nobody else can use them.
Landrush: At this point, its possible for anyone to bid for a domain name. The process is different for different domains, but what usually happens is that you can apply to register a domain name. At the end of the landrush period, domain names are allocated appropriately. If theres more than one applicant for a domain name, an auction is held. Landrush enables you to pay a bit more to secure particularly attractive domains.
General availability: This is where the new domains become available on an ongoing basis. Anyone can take their pick of remaining domains, and its first-come-first-served. If the domain you want is available, you can register it there and then.
Not every domain extension release follows this process exactly. But most of them follow a similar pattern. What if you miss out?
Landrush is your best chance to secure the name, although you may have to pay more than at general availability.
How Do You Choose An Seo
Search Engine Optimization is a list of various tools and procedures that help make your website one of the first results when searching the web for a specific keyword on a search engine such as Google or Bing. One of the things that can help with SEO is the choice of a domain name as well.
Keep the following in mind for an SEO-friendly domain name:
- Keep It Short â the shorter the domain name is, usually, the easier to remember, type, or search. If youâre using social media, itâs less likely to get additionally shortened when mentioned.
- Intuitive or Brandable â Your domain name should be able to give an idea of what your site is about at-a-glance.
- Append the Name â If a domain name youâve decided on is not available, itâs okay to add a suffix or a prefix to it such as toysonline.com or, toysonline.eu.
- â.comâ or not? â â.comâ is still used with the majority of websites online these days. Search engines donât necessarily have a preference for this specific TDL, but the general population seems to âtrustâ sites that use â.comâ more. If the â.comâ TLD is not available for your chosen Second Level Domain, â.netâ, or â.orgâ could be valid choices as well. If those arenât available, the next best option would be choosing an appropriate ccTDL.
- Careful About Trademarks â Make sure your domain name cannot be confused with another brand, especially in your vertical, as that company can later take legal action against you.
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