Why Is Some Of Registrant Data Still Public
WHOIS can trace its roots back to 1982 when a protocol for a directory was established by ARPANET users. Initially, the directory simply listed contact information that was requested by anyone transmitting data across the ARPANET.
However, as the internet became available to more users, WHOIS began to serve the need of different stakeholders that ranged from Registrants, governments and corporations. For decades WHOIS data was open to the public to ensure that all stakeholders, from Registrant and domain investors to government agencies and corporations are able to quickly determine who owns a domain name online
Longest Domain Name On The Internet
What is the longest name right of the WWW and left of the first slash, this side of the Internet?
What could possibly be the first ever longest English domain name including the top-level extension?
What in the world is the current longest valid root domain in the world ever?
Lets find out, shall we.
Drum roll…
Copy & Paste to your url bar and see it in action!
Longest Valid Domain in the World Ever
One might ask, “Yeah, well, what makes this domain longer than the rest? Why is it so special?”
This domain is a record-shattering mind-boggling total length of 77 characters!
The first of its kind, taking advantage of the TLD extension .international to beat out any other long domain name claim that has ever existed!
Created while I was struck with the flu, and had nothing to do!
Registered and live-to-web since December 2015!
Longest Anything dot Anything Caveats
As with any type of record or claim, there are many caveats. Consider these when laying claim to longest domain:
Does the domain name make sense, in a genuine language, or is it just a bunch of mumbo-jumbo
Is the date of registration before any other
Does the name span the dot, or not? ie. including the suffix such as .international for the total character count
Are there numbers, dashes, subdomains, subfolders, or is it just the root domain
Domain prefix registration of more than 63 characters is allowed
A new TLD of more than 13 characters is released
Two: Check The Whois Directory
Every time someone registers a domain name, the domain registrar that processes the sale is required to collect basic contact information. In some cases, that information then gets submitted to the WHOIS directory, so that theres a record of who runs each website online.
The WHOIS directory is therefore our next stop for seeking out a domain name owner.
Put in the name of the domain youre looking for and scroll down to find all the data the WHOIS directory lists for it. In a few cases, that may contain the owners contact information. If so, you can skip the next step.
Even if not though, it will always include at least their domain registrar and domain expiration date. That lets you know if the domain will be coming up for renewal soon. If so, you may be able to snap it up for cheaper when it expires than if you buy it from them directly. But that only works if they dont renew, so youre taking a chance.
Either way, knowing the domain registrar enables you to take the next step.
Recommended Reading: How Much To Purchase A Domain Name
Do You Need A Domain Name
There are three important reasons why you absolutely should want your own domain:
Registering your own domain name is the best way to own your content on the internet. It looks more professional, and registering your own domain is simple, affordable and gives your content a permanent online home.
Related: The Hidden Costs of Cheap Domains
Perform A Whois Search
The WHOIS service offered by NETIM and the access to the records in the WHOIS database are provided for information purposes only. It allows the public to check whether a specific domain name is still available or not and to obtain information related to the registration records of existing domain names. NETIM cannot, under any circumstances, be held liable in case the stored information would prove to be wrong, incomplete or not accurate in any sense. By submitting a query you agree not to use the information made available to: * allow, enable or otherwise support the transmission of unsolicited, commercial advertising or other solicitations whether via email or otherwise * target advertising in any possible way * to cause nuisance in any possible way to the registrants by sending messages to them.
Also Check: How To Transfer Squarespace Domain To Shopify
The Best Domain Registrar: How We Choose Them
- Pricing structures can be complicated. A low headline figure could become expensive on renewal, for instance. Prices vary between domain extensions, too, so a registrar that offers great value for a .com domain might give you a poor deal on when it comes to .org.
- There may be extra costs for tasks like transferring your domain to another registrar, too. Read the small print before you sign up.
- Look for any bundled or optional extras. A Whois privacy service prevents your address, phone number and email address appearing as public contact details for the domain, something which could otherwise get you a significant amount of spam email and phone calls. We’ve seen this cost as much as $11.20 a year, but several registrars provide it for free.
- Many domain registrars offer hosting as an extra, but keep in mind that web hosting companies can also register domains. If you have an idea of which web host you’d like to use, check the details of its plans: you may be able to register a domain for free when you buy hosting, and that’s often the cheapest option.
- Finally, take a look at the support a registrar offers. You may never need any help at all, but if anything critical crops up maybe an issue which might cause a problem with renewal it’s important that your provider is on hand to ably assist.
- Balancing all these priorities can be tricky, so that’s why we’ve created this list of top domain registrars to help point you in the right direction.
How Is Whois Changing
In light of the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, coming into force within the European Union in May 2018, many Registries and Registrars that operate within that region, or globally, are required to gain Registrant’s consent before disclosing Personally Identifiable Information to any third parties or the public. As a result of the implementation of the GDRP, much of the data historically found within WHOIS will no longer be included or be redacted. The absence of this information has a trickle-down effect throughout the domain industry, affecting WHOIS data output for domain names and Registrants that do not have an immediate or obvious nexus to the European Union
Recommended Reading: Cost To Register Domain Name
Why A Good Domain Name Is Important
A domain name is your unique identifier among billions of other websites on the web. Thats why having a memorable and easy-to-type name is essential for having an online presence.
Your domain name serves as an extension of your personal or business name. In that sense it:
- Improves recognition and awareness.
- Adds extra credibility to your venture.
- Eventually boosts visitors recall.
Also, choosing a good domain name is important for SEO. Several years ago exact match domains were all the rage, but today most people choose brandable domain names.
Memorable domain names get typed to Google more frequently. Algorithms keep track of that and assign more authority to your website. As the branded search volume grows, your domain name earns extra authority points, so that it gets easier to rank for related keywords.
With that being said, lets move on to the how-to part.
If Im Canadian Should I Choose A Ca Or Com Domain Name
As a Canadian, choosing between a .CA or .COM really depends on the nature of your business. In short if youre in Canada and you have a Canadian target market, choosing .CA is the ideal choice. However, if youre planning on offering your services abroad, then a .COM domain name is better for reaching an international audience.
Also Check: How Much Should A Domain Name Cost Per Year
How To Register A Domain Name: 4 Options
To get a domain name, youll need to call dibs with ICANN. ICANN is a global non-profit authority that maintains records on which domain and IP address belongs to whom and manages access to them.
But ICANN doesnt provide registration services, it only maintains records. Thats where domain name registrars come into play.
The primary role of a register is to:
- Coordinate claims on different domain names.
- Match specific domain names with Domain Name System nameservers.
- Ensure that there are no duplicate domain names.
Technically speaking, you are not buying a domain name from a registrar company, but reserve its usage for a specified time. You can pay to reserve a domain for 1-10 years at a time, depending on the registrar. After your initial subscription expires, youll need to renew it and pay a fee again. You can re-purchase your domain name over and over again.
When registering a domain name, you sign a long-term lease of your domain . You can read more about the domain costs here.
In practice, all of the above is much simpler than you think as we will show below.
Free Products + Services When You Register
From free perks like URL and email forwarding to sophisticated account features like Two-Step Verification and DNS templates, Name.com offers more for less.
Fair, transparent pricing
We clearly display domain discounts and renewal pricing during the search process so there are no nasty surprises when your domains renewal comes up.
Everything in one place
Once you have a domain in hand, we make it simple to attach email, hosting, website builders, and more. Its everything you need in one convenient place.
Easy domain transfers
Also Check: Squarespace Domain Registration
Cost To Register A Domain Name
According to HostGator, domain name cost ranges from free to tens of thousands of dollars, with the average domain name settling around $10-$12 annually. These factors will affect what you’d pay for a specific domain:
- The demand for the particular name you choose
- The TLD domain extension
- The domain registrar you’re purchasing from
- Whether the domain has already been purchased by someone else
- Whether you commit to an annual payment or another payment schedule
- Add-ons such as privacy
Whether you choose a free or paid domain will depend on your budget and your website’s purpose. For example, you might need a basic website or something simple and temporary. In that case, a free domain name might be a good option.
However, paid domain names look more professional and are more likely to grow with your brand. You should ultimately decide what will work best for your business and goals.
How Domain Names Impact Your Business
The right domain name can impact a websites traffic and overall brand image for a business. Many might attribute this to a domains impact on SEO.
But how can a domain name affect SEO?
Well, truth be told, a domain doesnt have too much of an effect on SEO. There are roughly , and the domain name is only one of them. While this implies that a domain name would have very little to no effect on the sites SEO, there are other ways a well-chosen domain can help. Here are three primary ways it can. Think of them as the three Rs.
Read Also: How Much Does It Cost To Purchase A Domain
Difference Between A Domain Name And Web Hosting
Going back to the start of this article, if the domain name is like your physical address then web hosting is like the physical building and the contents stored within.
Domain names are used to create a handy little shortcut to link what visitors type into an address bar to the server thats used to host the website. Theyre entirely digital and stored in a centralized database.
Hosting is a little different because it requires a physical server thats located somewhere in the world and connected to the internet. Its essentially like a computer hard drive that stores all of your websites files and databases. Its called a server because it literally serves your website to your visitors.
When you type a URL into your web browser, it sends a request to the specific server that your site is hosted on. The server then uploads the files and transmits them across the internet to the device that youre using, which downloads the files and displays them. Feel free to have a look at our more detailed guide about domain vs hosting relationship.
Whys It Necessary To Have A Whois Database
The ability to find domain info quickly and accurately is important for a couple main reasons: 1. A WHOIS check is essential for people in the business of buying and selling domains. These individuals need a method of communication for their transactions. A WHOIS search will provide one or more methods for reaching the current owner of a web address. 2. The WHOIS database is a way to maintain accountability for people who operate online. For example, if you felt someone was using your trademarks on their website, the WHOIS database provides a number of ways to resolve that dispute.
Recommended Reading: How Much To Purchase A Domain Name
Do I Need A Domain For A Website
The answer is yes. A domain gives your website a unique and searchable address, making it accessible to internet users. Without a domain, your visitors would have to look for the IP address at which your website is hosted. Since an IP address consists of a string of numbers and characters, this can make it hard for your visitors to remember.Remember that choosing a simple yet memorable domain name can help create a professional first impression.