Beginners frequently ask us, “What is a domain name, and how do domains work?” If you’re a beginner, you’ve probably heard that you need a domain to create a website.
Many newcomers, however, confuse a domain name with a website or a website hosting service. All of these different terms may sound too technical if you’re just starting out.
In this beginner’s guide, we’ll explain what a domain name is and how domains work. The goal is to assist you in understanding and selecting the best domain name for your website.
Here’s a quick rundown of the topics we’ll be covering in this guide.
- What exactly is a domain name?
- How do domains function?
- What is the distinction between a domain name, a website, and web hosting?
- Domain names of various types
- Who is in charge of the domain name system?
- How to Pick a Domain Name
- How to Purchase a Domain Name
- Frequently Asked Domain Name Questions
What exactly is a domain name?
The address of your website that people type in the browser URL bar to visit your website is known as the domain name.
In other words, if your website were a house, your domain name would be its address.
A more in-depth explanation:
The Internet is a massive network of computers linked together by a global network of cables. Each computer on this network has the ability to communicate with other computers.
Each computer is given an IP address in order to be identified. It’s really a set of numbers that uniquely identifies computer on the internet. An example of a typical IP address is as follows:
66.249.66.1
An IP address like this is extremely difficult to remember. Consider how you would feel if you had to use such numbers to access your favorite websites.
Domain names have always been created to address this issue.
You no longer need to enter a long string of numbers if you want to visit a website. Instead, enter an easy-to-remember domain name into your browser’s address bar. For instance, yourblogmaster.com.
How Do Domain Names Work?
To understand how domain names work, we’ll look at what happens when you type them into your browser.
When you enter a domain name into your web browser, it sends a request to the Domain Name System, which is a global network of servers (DNS).
These servers then look up the domain’s name servers and forward the request to those name servers.
For example, if your website is hosted by Bluehost, the name server information will be as follows:
ns1.bluehost.com
ns2.bluehost.com
These name servers are managed by your hosting provider. Your hosting company will route your request to the computer that houses your website.
This computer is known as a web server. It is equipped with specialized software (Apache, Nginx are two popular web server software). The web server now retrieves the web page and any associated information.
Finally, it sends this information back to the browser.
What is the distinction between a domain name, a website, and web hosting?
A website is composed of files such as HTML pages, website builder software, images, and other elements.
If your domain name is your website’s web address, then web hosting is the place where your website lives.
This is the computer on which your website’s files are stored. These computers are known as servers, and hosting companies provide them as a service.
You will need a domain name as well as web hosting to create your website.
However, keep in mind that they are two separate services that can be purchased from two different companies.
You might be wondering how it would work if you bought them from two different companies.
Simply edit your domain name settings and enter the Name Server information provided by your hosting provider. Name Server information specifies where user requests for your domain name should be routed.
We recommend that you get both your domain name and your hosting from the same company. This allows you to manage them all from the same account.
See our guide on the distinction between a domain name and web hosting for more information.
Domain Names of Various Types
Many different extensions are available for domain names. The most well-known is.com. There are numerous other options, including.org,.net,.tv,.info,.io, and others. However, we always recommend that you use the.com domain extension.
Let’s take a closer look at the various types of domain names available.
TLD is an abbreviation for Top Level Domain.
TLDs are generic domain extensions that are listed at the top level of the domain name system.
There are hundreds of TLDs available, but the most popular are.com,.org, and.net. Other TLDs are less well-known and should be avoided. For instance,.biz,.club,.info,.agency, and many others.
ccTLD stands for Country Code Top Level Domain.
Country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) are country-specific domain names that end in a country code extension such as.uk for the United Kingdom,.de for Germany, and.in for India.
Websites that want to target audiences in a specific country use them.
sTLD stands for Sponsored Top Level Domain.
Sponsored top-level domains, or sTLDs, are a type of TLD that has a sponsor who represents a specific community served by the domain extension.
For example,.edu is for educational organizations,.gov is for the US government,.mil is for the US military, and so on.
Who is in charge of the Domain Name System?
A domain name system is controlled by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). It is a non-profit organization that develops and implements domain name policies.
Domain Name Registrars are companies that are authorized by ICANN to sell domain names. These domain registrars have the authority to change the domain name registry on your behalf.
Domain name registrars can sell domain names, manage their records, and transfer them to other registrars.
As the owner of a domain name, you are responsible for informing the registrar where to send requests. You’re also in charge of renewing your domain registration.
How Should You Pick a Domain Name for Your Website?
There are currently over 350 million registered domain names, with thousands more being added every day.
This means that all of the good ones are either already registered or will be very soon. This places a lot of pressure on new users to think of a domain name for their website.
To save you time, we’ve created a free AI-powered business name generator tool that helps you come up with creative company name ideas and check domain name availability status.
Here are some pointers to consider when selecting a domain name for your next website.
- Stick with a.com domain name because it is the most popular, easiest to remember, and easiest to promote.
- Make it as short as possible and as easy to remember as possible.
- Make it simple to say and spell.
- Use no numbers or hyphens.
- To come up with clever domain name ideas, use domain name generators.
See our guide on how to choose the best domain name for your website for more tips and practical advice.
How Do I Purchase a Domain Name?
Domain names can be purchased from one of the many domain name registrars. A domain name costs an average of $14.99 per year. Some well-known domain name registrars are:
- Domain.com (To get a discount, use this Domain.com coupon.)
- Solutions for Networks (use our Network Solutions coupon code to get 25 percent off).
- GoDaddy
However, purchasing a domain does not entitle you to hosting services. You will also need a website hosting account for this.
Many WordPress hosting companies also provide domain registration services. This allows you to manage both services from a single account and eliminates the need to change the name server settings for your domain.
Bluehost is a service that we recommend. They are providing Yourblogmaster users with a free domain name as well as a 60% discount on hosting. In essence, you can get started for $2.75 per month.
Frequently Asked Domain Name Questions
We’ve helped thousands of beginners launch their first websites over the years. We’ve been asked almost every domain-related question you can think of.
The following are the most frequently asked questions regarding domain names.
1. What exactly is a subdomain?
A subdomain is essentially a subdomain of the main domain name. Videos.yourblogmaster.com, for example, is a subdomain of yourblogmaster.com.
When you register a domain, you gain the ability to create subdomains for it on your own.
Websites frequently use subdomains to create child sites under the same domain name. A business website, for example, can designate a subdomain for their blog or online store as store.example.com or blog.example.com.
2. Can I cancel my domain name registration?
You can cancel your domain registration with some domain registrars at any time. If you cancel your registration, it will be made available to others.
Other domain name registrars simply allow you to let your domain registration expire.
In most cases, you will not be able to get a refund for your domain registration. However, some domain registrars have refund policies that you should inquire about before canceling your registration.
If you do not enable the auto-renewal feature, your domain name will simply expire at the end of the registration period you have paid for.
3. Can I change the domain name of my website?
You certainly can. You can point your domain name to the server where you host your website. Both domain names can also point to the same website.
However, search engines consider it duplicate content, which will have an impact on your search rankings.
We have a step-by-step guide on how to properly move a website to a new domain name and set up redirects to avoid harming your SEO.
4. Is it possible to sell a domain name?
You can, in fact, sell your domain name. Domain names are similar to real estate on the internet. Good brandable custom domain names are in high demand.
Domain name trading is a multibillion-dollar industry. Because domain names are so inexpensive, smart entrepreneurs are constantly on the lookout for great domain name ideas to get their hands on.
If you want to sell your domain name, there are many marketplace websites where you can list it for sale, such as Sedo, GoDaddy, and others.
Popular domain registrars such as Domain.com and Network Solutions also allow you to purchase premium domains directly from their domain search feature.
Related: Check out the best GoDaddy alternatives for domain registration.
5. What exactly is domain privacy? Do I require it?
ICANN requires domain name registrants to provide an email address, physical address, phone number, and other personal information that will be made public.
Domain Privacy is an add-on service offered by domain registrars. It enables you to display proxy information rather than your actual personal information.
You are not required to purchase domain privacy if you do not wish to. However, if you are concerned about your privacy, you can purchase this service for a small fee.
6. May I purchase more than one domain name?
Yes, you can purchase an unlimited number of domain names.
7. Where can I learn more about website development?
Here we are. Yourblogmaster is the world’s most comprehensive WordPress resource site for newcomers. We have tutorials, step-by-step guides, and videos designed specifically for new users.
Here are some of the useful resources available on Yourblogmaster (All of them are completely free).
- How to Develop a Website (step by step guide for beginners)
- Yourblogmaster Videos – WordPress video tutorials for beginners from Yourblogmaster.
- Yourblogmaster Dictionary – Our term glossary to help you understand WordPress jargon.
- Yourblogmater Blog – Here we publish WordPress tutorials, how-tos, and step-by-step guides.
- Yourblogmaster on YouTube – Looking for more video tutorials? Subscribe to our YouTube channel, which has over 126,000 subscribers and has received over 12 million views.
We hope this article has helped you understand what a domain name is and how domains work. You might also want to check out our list of the best free domain name generators to get some inspiration for your next domain name.
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