A domain name is a web address made up of a website name and a . The name is up to you, as long as it is made up of letters, numbers and hyphens and is still available, while the domain extension is usually a fixed combination of a few letters.
Just like a physical address helps people find a specific place, the purpose of a domain is to help users find a website. Without domain names, users can only access websites using Internet Protocol (IP) addresses.
However, IP addresses are difficult to remember as they consist of a series of seemingly random numbers, which makes them not easy to share. Domain names, on the other hand, can help .
In this article, we will cover all the necessary information about domain names. We will explain how domains work and their different types. Then we’ll show you how to register and transfer a domain name and answer some frequently asked questions.
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Differences between a domain name and a URL
Although a domain name and a URL (Universal Resource Locator) share some similarities, they refer to different things. A URL is a complete website address that can direct users to a specific page on a site. A domain name is just one part.
A URL is made up of a protocol, a domain, and a path. The protocol shows if a site has a . Note that URLs have a path only when they direct users to a specific page on a site.
How do domains work?
Every website has the following two main elements: a domain name and a . Your domain name points to the web server that hosts your site.
Please note that each domain is linked to an IP address. When a user enters a domain name into a browser, the server will search through a global network of servers that make up the .
DNS servers will look up the IP address associated with the domain name. The server that has information about the IP address will return it to the web browser. It will then request data about the site from the domain’s hosting server.
The web server stores all of the website’s data, including its files, database, and . Once the data is returned by the hosting server, the web browser converts it into a web page that users can visit.
Different types of domains
Not all Internet domains follow the same formula, and although .com make up 46.5% of all websites globally, that leaves plenty of room for other types of domains like .org Y . In general, the most common types include:
TLD: Top Level Domains (Top Level Domains)
A is exactly what its name says: a type of domain that sits at the top level of the Internet’s domain system. There are over a thousand TLDs available, but the most common include .com, .org, .net Y .edu.
The official list of TLDs is maintained by an organization called the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and can be viewed at . IANA notes that the list of TLDs also includes ccTLDs and gTLDs, which we will discuss below.
ccTLD: Country Code Top Level Domains
ccTLDs use only two letters and are based on international country codes, such as .it is for Spain Y .jp for Japan. They are often used by companies that are creating dedicated sites for specific regions and can be a good way to signal to users that they have come to the right place.
gTLD: Generic Top Level Domains
A gTLD is essentially a TLD that is not dependent on a country code. Many gTLDs are intended for a specific use case, such as .edu, which is aimed at educational institutions. That said, you don’t need to meet any specific criteria to register a gTLD, which is why .com It is not only used for commercial purposes.
Other examples of gTLDs include .one thousand (military), .gov (government), .org (for nonprofits and other organizations) and .netwhich was originally designed for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) but is now in much wider use.
Other types of domains
Although the categories mentioned above are the most frequent, there are other variations that you can find.
Second level domains
You’ve probably seen them before. We are talking about a domain that is directly below a top level domain. We’re not going to get too technical here because it’s easier to show examples, particularly when it comes to country codes.
For example, British companies occasionally use .co.uk instead of .com, and is a perfect example of a second level domain. Another second level domain is .gov.ukwhich is often used by government institutions, and .ac.ukwhich is used by academic institutions and universities.
Subdomains
Subdomains are useful because they do not require webmasters to purchase an additional web domain to create divisions within their site. Instead, they can create a subdomain that effectively points to a specific directory on the server. This can be very useful for campaign sites and other types of web content that need to be kept separate from the main site.
For example, Facebook uses developers.facebook.com to provide specific information for web and application developers who want to use the Facebook API. Another good example is support.google.com.
How to register a web domain
Different domain name providers use different systems, so while this answer covers the general process, it may vary slightly by provider. For more details, you can check our guide on .
Typically, you’ll start by making a . Most internet domain providers will let you type in your desired name and see if it’s available. Here at , we also offer many suggestions of possible alternatives, which can be useful in case the one you want is already registered.
From there, it’s just a matter of completing the process of ordering and paying for your new domain. Once you have registered, you will have access to a control panel with all the essential administration tools.
How to transfer a web domain
Web domains can also be transferred between registrars. Although there are some special conditions that must be met:
- Must be 60 days or more since registration or last transfer.
- The Dominion No must be in Redemption or Pending Removal status.
- You must have your domain’s authorization code (also known as an EPP code).
- Domain ownership details must be valid and privacy protection services must be disabled.
While you don’t have to transfer your domain, having all of your services in one place can greatly simplify the management process.
Here at , you can do one from any registrar. The process may take 4-7 days to complete. However, our dedicated Customer Success team will be there to help you every step of the way.
Difference between a web domain and web hosting
Referring to the beginning of this article, if the web domain is like your physical address, web hosting is like the physical building and the contents are stored there.
Web domains are used to create a handy little shortcut to link what visitors type in the address bar to the server used to host the website. They are completely digital and stored in a centralized database.
Web hosting is a bit different because it requires a physical server located somewhere in the world and connected to the Internet. It’s essentially like a computer hard drive that stores all of your website’s files and databases. It’s called a server because it literally “serves” your website to your visitors.
When you type a URL (for example, ) in your web browser, your web browser sends a request to the specific server on which your site is hosted. The server then uploads the files and streams them over the Internet to the device you’re using, which in turn downloads the files and displays them.
So what is a web domain?
This is what you need to know:
- A web domain is the equivalent of a postal address for your website.
- They consist of a website name (such as ) and a domain name extension (such as .com).
- All domain registries are supervised by ICANN.
- They work by forwarding visitors to the appropriate server.
- The .com are the most popular, since they are in 46.5% of the web.
- ccTLDs use country codes and designate geographic areas (for example, .cn or .es).
- gTLDs are often designed for specific use cases (eg .org for organizations).
- Each domain registrar has a different subscription process.
- You can use domain search engines to find available ones.
- They can be transferred from one provider to another.
- Servers are physical machines that store your website files.
- If you need help, our support team will be happy to help you.
further reading
Do you want to learn more about websites, domains and web hosting? Here are some articles that you can look at right away!
final words
In this tutorial, we have learned everything there is to know about web domains and how they work. We’ve also covered the basics of domain transfer and the registration process.
If you have questions related to domains, feel free to send us your comments below!
Gustavo is passionate about creating websites. He focuses on the application of SEO strategies at for Spain and Latin America, as well as the creation of high-level content. When he is not applying new WordPress tricks you can find him playing the guitar, traveling or taking an online course.
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