What Is The Url
A Uniform Resource Locator is a string of characters in a web browser that tells the server to display a specific resource to an end user. While a URL and domain name have similarities, the URL is much more descriptive. In fact, a URL actually encompasses the domain name.
For example, https://www.godaddy.com/help/what-is-a-url-8809.html is a URL that includes the domain name GoDaddy.com within it. In fact, lets look at the other elements of that URL. It also includes several other components which well dive into below.
The protocol
URLs include schemes or protocols that communicate how to access that specific resource. In the example above, https:// is the protocol. Most web addresses will use either HTTP or HTTPS .
The difference between HTTP and HTTPS is the S which refers to security. HTTPS websites have SSL security which is an encryption that protects the sensitive data of its users. If your site doesnt have an SSL certificate, you should strongly consider adding it because visitors are hyper-aware of their personal data online, and 85 percent of online shoppers will actively avoid an unsecure website.
Related:
The subdomain
A subdomain is an optional part of a URL that creates a completely separate section of your website. If a URL has a subdomain, it will precede the domain name with a period.
For example, Tumblr uses subdomains for each of its users.
- Example.tumblr.com
- Example2.tumblr.com
Related: DNS records A beginners guide
The domain name
The path
How Do Domains Work
Every website has two main elements a domain name and a web hosting server. All domain names are linked to their respective IP addresses and point to the specific web servers that host the websites.
When a user enters a domain name into a browser, it looks for the associated IP address through a global network of Domain Name System servers.
Next, the server with the information about the IP address returns it to the web browser, which requests data about the site from the domains hosting service. This web server stores all of the websites data, including its files, database, and HTML code.
Once the host has sent the data back, the web browser converts it into a web page that users can visit.
Before We Begin Dont Just Go And Get A Different Tld
If your desired domain name is taken, you might be thinking that theres a third option worth considering: getting the same domain but with a different TLD, like .net or .org instead of .com.
However, this is not a good idea. First off, people will never remember what your correct TLD was, so they will usually go for .com anyway ending up at the wrong website.
Additionally, registering existing names can also result in legal trouble. The owner of the original .com might argue that youre trying to infringe on their brand name by registering a similar domain name.
At the end of the day, youre really better off either trying to get the original domain name that you wanted from the start, or changing your focus to a different name entirely.
With that said, lets talk business:
Don’t Miss: How Can I Get My Own Email Domain
How To Buy A Domain Name
Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means if you click on some of our links that we may earn a commission.
Getting a domain name for your website is easy. If you have never done it before, do not worrythere are only four steps.
Throughout my career, Ive bought a lot of domains names from different vendors. Some of those experiences were significantly better than others.
This guide will explain my four favorite ways to buy a domain. One of those methods will even get you a free domain name for the first year. Ill also show you how to buy premium domain names and ones that arent for sale.
No matter what domain name you want, by the end of this post you will know how to get it. Keep reading, or jump ahead if you know what you need.
Buying A Domain Name This Is What You Need To Know
Anthony Heddings
Anthony Heddings is the resident cloud engineer for LifeSavvy Media, a technical writer, programmer, and an expert at Amazon’s AWS platform. He’s written hundreds of articles for How-To Geek and CloudSavvy IT that have been read millions of times. Read more…
A domain name is your websites location on the internet. It translates the digits that make up your IP address into something catchy that people can remember. Domain names are bought through Domain Name Registrars, companies that manage the reservation of domain names and point them to your website.
RELATED:What Is DNS, and Should I Use Another DNS Server?
Don’t Miss: What Is Comcast Domain Name
What To Do If Your Preferred Domain Name Isnt Available Anymore
If a domain name is already registered by another individual or business, it may be available for purchase through a domain broker or online marketplace like Flippa, Sedo or GoDaddy Domain Auctions.
A domain name that is for sale
This means that the owner is interested in offers. When you click the link, youll usually get taken to a form where you can register your interest. In some cases, youll even see the amount the seller demands.
If the price of your desired domain is very high, dont be discouraged as everything in life is negotiable, and this also applies to domain names.
For the example above , we dont know the asking price. But my guess would be $15-35k as its a short domain name that is brandable. A factor that also increases the price in this case is that there is a service with that name which is currently using an .io domain name.
A little inside story: when I bought the tooltester.com domain name, which cost us a low five-figure amount, I spent a year trying to negotiate with the seller . He wouldnt go down even a penny, which I found extremely frustrating. So unfortunately, there are these cases too, but its not the norm.
Does A Domain Name Registration Expire And What Happens If It Does Before I Renew It
When you register a domain name, youll see the registration date as well as the expiration date. Every domain name expires at some point, whether thats in a year, a couple of years, or a decade. You can save time by buying a domain with a longer expiration date. In any case, youll need to manually renew your domain when that expiration date is approaching.
The good news is that you can renew your domain name registration before it expires, which allows you to keep your domain name. This is especially important if you have a very simple domain name thats highly sought after. Typically, youll receive your first reminder to renew your domain about a month before it expires. If you still dont renew your domain name after receiving this message, youll get another reminder about a week before your domain expires.
So, what happens if you forget to renew your domain name before it expires? As long as the domain name hasnt been registered by somebody else, you can reactivate your domain name after the expiration date. Keep in mind that some domains are in much higher demand than others, and there are even some bots out there that automatically register high-profile domains when they become available.
Bring your brand to life with your own website. Design from scratch, connect a domain, analyze traffic, and optimize for SEO.
Read Also: How To Create Your Own Email Domain
Truth In Domain Names Act
In the United States, the Truth in Domain Names Act of 2003, in combination with the PROTECT Act of 2003, forbids the use of a misleading domain name with the intention of attracting Internet users into visiting sites.
The Truth in Domain Names Act follows the more general Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act passed in 1999 aimed at preventing typosquatting and deceptive use of names and trademarks in domain names.
Domain Names Are Designed For People
Everything could theoretically be handled using just IP addresses when you want to bring up a web page in your browser. In fact, adding a domain name adds an extra step in that there needs to be a way to convert from a domain name to an IP address .
So, why do we use domain names at all?
Imagine that, instead of remembering everyone’s name, you had to remember their phone number or social security number whenever you wanted to talk about them. Or imagine going into an electronics store and finding there are no more brands, device names, or model names. Everything just has a serial number that you have to remember if you want to buy it.
We, humans, are much better at remembering names than we are at remembering strings of digits. That’s why we talk about catchy brand and model names, and that’s why we use domain names instead of IP addresses.
Recommended Reading: How Important Is Your Domain Name
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 a 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.
Registering A Domain Name: What Does It Mean Exactly
This process involves selecting a unique domain name and paying a fee to have it registered in your name. Once youve registered a domain name, it becomes your property and cant be registered by anyone else as long as you are paying the registration fee.
If your domain name has already been registered, things become more complicated. It doesnt necessarily mean that you cant get it: in some cases, the current owner may be willing to sell the domain name to you. Alternatively, you may be able to purchase the domain name through an online marketplace or domain broker.
You May Like: How To Use A Domain Name To Make A Website
Domain Names Versus Web Hosting
If you want to start your own website, you’ll need to do two big things: register your domain name and find a place to host your website.
A web host provides a place for you to securely store your web content: your home page, photos, articles, and any other files that people see on your website. Whenever someone visits your website, they’re accessing the information on the servers of your web host. Like everything else connected to the internet, your web host’s servers are assigned their own IP addresses.
It’s technically possible for you to host your own website on your own home computer or office server, but that’s becoming less and less common.
When you register your domain, you’re adding your domain name to the DNS so that people know it exists. Whether you use a web host provider or host your own website, you’ll need to register your domain name. Otherwise, there’ll be no way for the public to access your website except by using an IP address.
Think of it like starting a physical business. First, you need to register your business â apply for a business name, make sure that no one else is using your business name, and get a Tax ID number. But, you still need a place to do business, whether you’re designating some space in your home or renting an office.
Subdomains And Parked Domains
Besides the above mentioned classification, domain names are categorized in another fashion.
One common type of domain you often hear about is a subdomain, which is exactly what it sounds like, a domain within a domain. A subdomain is usually prefixed to the name of the original domain, for instance, blog.puppylinux.com.
Subdomains are useful as they help you effectively host a different website without purchasing an additional domain name. The subdomains are usually employed to host content that is somehow different from the main domain. For instance, Google uses the support.google.com subdomain to provide help and support for all the services offered by the search engine.
Another popular type of domain is a parked domain. This is usually used as an alias for the main domain and redirects requests to the primary domain. Companies usually use parked domains to secure common misspellings of their primary domain name, such as microsft.com or gooogle.com. Many also use parked domains to register the primary domain with other TLDs, for instance yahoo.net.
Read Also: How To Change Your WordPress Domain
Choose The Best Domain Name Option
When youre checking for available domain names, youll often find that your first, second, and tenth choices are already taken. Some of the different approaches you can take when this happens are:
- Keep searching. Let your creative juices flow, and continue to search until you find something you love or at least like.
- Choose another extension. If the .com isnt available and youre set on a certain name, consider the .net or .org if you think it will work.
- Reach out to the owner. Maybe the domain is already owned, but its not being put to much use. You could reach out to the owner with an offer.
What Does It Mean To Own A Domain Name
Although people often speak of buying and owning domain names, the truth is that registries own all of their domain names and registrars simply offer customers the opportunity to reserve those domain names for a limited amount of time.
The maximum reservation period for a domain name is ten years. A user can hold onto a domain name for longer than ten years, as registrars usually let them keep renewing their reservation indefinitely. But the user never truly owns the domain they just lease it.
Recommended Reading: Does Shopify Offer Domain Name
What Do I Do Once I Have Bought My Domain Name
After buying a domain name, you can connect your domain name to a website to publish it to the world. When people type in your connected domain name, theyll see the website youve built. Of course, youll also need a server to host your website on.
First, make sure you write down your login information for your domain registrar of choice. This login information is important when it comes time to connect your domain to your website or renew your domain registration. You can always contact your registrar for help logging in to manage your domain, but its easier to store your login information somewhere safe. You can use a secure password manager if you want to store this information on your phone or computer, or you can simply write it down on a piece of paper and keep it somewhere safe.
When you use a website builder like Mailchimp, you can easily connect your domain name in just a few minutes. Youll also need to choose a web hosting provider, which essentially acts as a server to store the files that make your website work. You can purchase both your hosting package and your domain name separately and connect them to your website using a website builder. However, you also have the option of purchasing a domain name directly through Mailchimp when you build your website.
Bring your brand to life with your own website. Design from scratch, connect a domain, analyze traffic, and optimize for SEO.
Why Every Small Business Should Own A Domain Name
? You should buy a domain name.
A is the address for a websiteyou’re reading this article on zapier.com, for example. Registering a domain name isn’t expensive, typically costing around $15 a year.
Some businesses use the free subdomains offered by web hosts like Wix or WordPress.com. If Zapier went this route, for example, you could be reading this article on zapier.wordpress.com, and we’d have an extra $15 a year to spend on snacks.
Obviously, it would be silly for a tech company like Zapier not to have a dedicated domain name. We’d look amateurish. Here’s the thing, though: this is true for every business. You should buy a domain, even if you don’t plan on having much of a websiteor any website at all. Here’s why.
Speaking of WordPress: here’s the , just in case you’re thinking about choosing one or the other. And here are .
Don’t Miss: How To Start A Domain
The Difference Between A Url And Domain
A websites URL will always include the sites domain name. However, as you can see, there are several other sections of the URL that are required to access any resource or page of a website.
The domain name directs users to the homepage of the website, and it wont include the protocol, file name, directory or subdomain if one exists.
While there is only one domain name for a website, there can be an endless number of URLs.
Every page, image and other media on your website has a unique URL. As the name suggests, Universal Resource Locators are used to pinpoint and render your websites unique assets.