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Domain Name

Definition

What is a domain name?

Simply put, a domain name is an alphanumeric address a user types into a browser to access a website. Examples would be:

  • Google.com
  • Facebook.com
  • Ebay.com

If you wish to learn more about this topic, check out the FAQ section below:

Question #1: How does it work?

A domain name works as a bridge between a user and the website they are looking to access, simplifying the entire process. You see, the actual addresses of the websites we visit are complex combinations of numbers called IP addresses.

Examples would be:

  • 173.194.213.113
  • 157.240.14.35
  • 66.211.172.37

One look at these numbers and you immediately know just how challenging it would be to memorize the actual addresses of the websites you frequent if it did not exist. Fortunately, they do—which means you can just type the domain name of the website you want to visit in your browser and it will automatically map your request to the correct IP address.

Question #2: What is the difference between a domain name and an IP address?

As we have seen in the previous section, the main differences between a domain name and an IP address is their form and purpose.

It is a set of alphanumeric characters—typically arranged in a meaningful way—that maps user requests to the correct IP address of the website that the user is looking to access. An IP address, on the other hand, is a series of numbers that designate the actual address of a website on the internet.

Typing ‘google.com’ into your browser, for example, would automatically take you to 173.194.213.113. Typing ‘facebook.com’, on the other hand, would take you to 157.240.14.35. Finally, typing ‘ebay.com’ would take you to 66.211.172.37.

Question #3: What is the difference between a URL and a domain name?

The main difference between a URL and a domain name is their purpose.

Short for uniform resource locator, a URL contains not only the domain name of a specific website, but other information as well, including its path and transfer protocol. An example would be ‘https://www.youtube.com/c/youtubecreators, where:

  • ‘youtube.com’ is the domain name
  • ‘/c/youtubecreators’ is the path to the specific page we want to access
  • ‘https://’ is the transfer protocol

Again, it’s simply an alphanumeric series of characters meant to simplify the way we access websites by eliminating the need to enter actual IP addresses into our browsers. 

Question #4: How do I register?

You can register a domain name—for a monthly or annual fee—with any domain registrar. Examples would be:

  • Domain.com
  • Bluehost.com
  • GoDaddy.com
  • Domains.google

Question #5: What is the difference between a domain name registry and registrar?

The main difference between a domain name registry and registrar is their purpose. The former is an organisation that is in charge of creating and managing top-level domains. The latter is in charge of selling domain names to end users.

Question #6: Which domain name registrar is right for me?

To find out which domain registrar is right for you, you need to consider three simple factors:

  • Price
  • Top-level domain selection
  • Features and inclusions

Let us take a closer look at each one:

First, you need to choose a name registrar that offers plans that fit your budget. The good news is that it generally do not really cost that much, so you should easily be able to find a registrar that works for you. In fact, some even offer for free if you also build your website on their platform.

Second, you need to choose a registrar that sells the exact top-level domain you want. A registrar that offers .com, for example, would not necessarily also have top-level domains such as:

  • .auto
  • .agency
  • .app

Finally, it would be a good idea to choose a registrar that throws in a lot of extras with their plans, such as:

  • Privacy protection
  • Website builders
  • Backups