Domain
What is a Domain Name?
A domain name uniquely identifies a website. Typing a domain name (also called a URL) into your browser allows you to visit that site.
One unique domain name can be used as a company’s web address and for its email addresses.
Domains are much more than just names typed into a web browser. Your domain name is how the world will think of you and your business. It’s part of your brand and your marketing plan. You can have multiple domains that each relate to some aspect of your business. A domain can be easy to remember and help establish you on the web.
Any domain name registered through Africa Registry as the Registrar of record.
A domain name is essentially a signpost on the Internet. Almost every website you’ve ever been to, and every email you’ve ever composed, has used a domain name in its address
The unique name that identifies an Internet site. Domain Names always have 2 or more parts, separated by dots. The part on the left is the most specific, and the part on the right is the most general. …
An Internet address in alphabetic form. Domain names must have at least 2 parts: the part on the left which names the organization, and the part on the right which identifies the highest subdomain, such as the country (fr for France, uk for United Kingdom) or the type of organization (com for …
Allows you to reference Internet sites without knowing the true numerical address.
A unique name that identifies one or more IP addresses. For example, the domain name Ireland.ie represents one IP address. Domain names are used in URLs to identify particular Web pages. Every web site that you visit is stored under domain name.
Used in URLs to identify particular web pages or sites located on the Internet. For example, the domain name nces.ed.gov represents the web site for the National Center for Education Statistics.
A name that identifies one or more IP addresses. For example, the domain name microsoft.com represents about a dozen IP addresses. Domain names are used in URLs to identify particular Web pages. For example, in the URL http://www.yahoo.com/index.html, the domain name is Yahoo.com.
An addressing system that enables websites on the Internet to be reached by a simple name rather than by an IP address or numbers. Examples of domain names include .com, .net, .org, .gov, .us, .info, .biz, .tv, .ws, .edu and so forth.
A series of alphanumeric strings separated by periods, such as www.techniqueweb.com, that identifies the owner of the address. Click for a free consultation
In short, a domain name is nothing more than an alias for a numeric web address. Each web site on the internet has a numeric address that functions like coordinates on a map. …
This is the name that identifies an Web site. For example, “microsoft.com” is the domain name of Microsoft’s Web site. A single Web server can serve Web sites for multiple domain names, but a single domain name can point to only one machine. For example, Apple Computer has Web sites at www. …
A series of words separated by dots (eg: microsoft.com) identifying an IP address.
A unique alpha-numeric designation to facilitate reference to the sets of numbers that actually locate a particular computer connected to the global information network; any name representing any record that exists within the Domain Name System (DNS).
The name of a computer on the Internet; the domain name service (DNS) converts domain names to IP addresses.
A name for an IP address, which may have various suffixes, such as .com, .net, .edu, or.org. Google Page Rank- A system which ranks pages within the Google search engine and determines the importance of the web page, based on a scale of 1 to 10.
The “address” or URL of a particular Web site. This is also how you describe the name that is at the right of the @ sign in an Internet address. For example, netlingo.com is the domain name of this Internet dictionary. …
In the Internet, a part of a naming hierarchy consisting of a sequence of names separated by periods (dots) that corresponds to the network number in the IP address. In the symbolic name john@videoconferencingbridging.com, the domain name is videoconferencingbridging.com.
Generally, a text address that corresponds to one or more numeric IP addresses. An exclusive name that identifies a web site, such as companyname.com.
strings of letters and numbers (separated by periods) that are used to name organizations and computers and addresses on the internet; “domain …
The term domain name has multiple related meanings:*A name that identifies a computer or computers on the Internet. These names appear as a component of a Web site’s URL, e.g. en.wikipedia.org. This type of domain name is also called a hostname. …
a unique, case-insensitive, name, consisting of a string made up of alphanumeric characters and dashes separated by periods, that the Domain Name System maps to IP numbers and other information; an identifier of a computer or site on the Internet; a domain — that part of a domain name which …
What Do The Different Extensions Represent?
Common extensions include:
- .COM — Abbreviation of “Commerce” — currently available to all
- .NET — Abbreviation of “Network” — currently available to all
- .ORG — Abbreviation of “Organization” — currently available to all
- .INFO — Abbreviation of “Information” — currently available to all
- .BIZ — Abbreviation of “Business” — currently available to all
- .GOV — Abbreviation of “Government” — reserved for government institutions
- .EDU — Abbreviation of “Education” — reserved for educational institutions
Why Buy a Premium Domain?
Why a Good Domain Name is Important
Acquiring a domain name is an important first step in building a successful online business. Below are the most popular reasons why individuals and businesses own domain names.
- Improve Your Marketing and Visibility
The right domain name allows customers an easy way to remember and find you. It’s your location on the web. It’s also your email address. - Build Credibility
Using your domain for your website and to personalize your email helps establish credibility and professionalism. For instance, an email address such as jen@buydomains.com is more professional than jen127@freeemailservice.com. - Protect Your Brand
Purchase the domain name that best represents your business name. Domains are valuable online real estate. Secure the right name and keep it out of the hands of your competitors.
You may also find many attractive domains for your business. Securing more than one helps protect your brand and increase your reach. You can easily direct as many domains as you want to a single website.
- Acquire More Traffic
Some domains already receive traffic. This traffic principally comes from direct type-in or referral traffic. Direct type-in is when an internet user types the domain directly into her browser, such as typing ‘www.photography.com.’ Referral traffic typically comes from links on other websites. - As an Investment
Similar to real estate, domain names are investments. Domain values increase daily. You yourself can make your domain name more valuable by building and marketing your website.
How to Choose a Premium Domain
There are hundreds of thousands of domains to choose from. Below are the most important things to keep in mind when searching for the right domains.
- Relevance
Make sure there is a clear connection between your domain name and your website. Domains that are too generic make this difficult. For example: PetsToys.com is better than PetsWeb.net. - Easy to Remember
Find domain names that are catchy, short, and easy to spell and say. Pronounce the domain three times aloud. Does it sound natural? Imagine yourself telling a potential customer about your website. Is it easy to convey and remember? - Evaluate Keyword Searches
If your domain name is an exact match of a search keyword, your website will likely appear near the top of those results. This can help your site get valuable traffic. Consider the most popular and relevant keyword searches for your business and see if they are available as domain names. You can try this by going to any search engine such as yahoo.com, google.com, or msn.com. - Pay Attention to the Extension
.com is the most popular. Others that are well-known and can deliver value are .net, .org, .biz, and .info. You must consider your competition and whether you want to buy all the extensions for your domain name. If you sell products to an international market, consider country-code domains. In this case, you might secure the .com, the .net, and the country-code, as appropriate (e.g., .co.uk). - Find Similar Domains
You may find a number of attractive domains for your business. You should consider protecting your brand and increasing your reach by securing multiple names. There could be multiple opportunities to get search engine traffic. You can easily forward one URL to another domain, which means that you can create one website that many domains point to.
Guide to Premium DomainsWhat Is a Domain Name? Why Buy a Premium Domain? How to Choose a Premium Domain Find Premium Domains FAQ
Search for Domains Advanced Search Domains by Category Domains by Keyword Domains by Price
Domain Financing How to Apply Domain Financing FAQ
Domains News Subscribe to & Manage Alerts Read Latest Edition Success Stories
Business Resources Business Resources Website Building Grow Your Business Promote Your Website “How-To” Guide for Small Businesses Five Key Considerations for Small Businesses
Portfolio Acquisitions Sell Us Your Domains
Popular Categories
www.ebay .com, www.DNforum.com, www.forums.Digitalpoint.com, www.Namepros.com, www.domainstate.com, www.sedo.com, www.greatdomains.com, www.dotcomagency.com
www.buydomains.com
domain name system domain name server domain name service domain name registration fully qualified domain name domain name registrar domain name servers keyword domain name domain name services dynamic domain name system
Business Start here..
Domain Name
In computer networking, a domain name is a name given to a collection of network devices that belong to a domain which is managed according to some common property of the members or within a common administrative boundary. In particular, the term is used to describe the regions of administrative authority within the Domain name system used for the Internet (cf. DNS zone).
Domain names are used in a variety of contexts for identification, reference, and access to Internet resources. They can appear as components of Web sites‘ Uniform Resource Locators (URL, ‘Web-address’), e.g. www.wikipedia.org, electronic mail (e-mail) addresses after the customary ‘@’ separator from the user’s name, or as any other part of a syntax that describes an access method to a device or service in an IP network.
Domain names are created out of a naming space and methodology that was first defined by Paul Mockapetris in IETF publication RFC 882 and RFC 883 (1983) and used in the first expansion of the ARPANET, a predecessor of today’s Internet. The model prescribed a tree-like structure of named nodes starting from an unnamed root node (cf. DNS root zone) that was only designated by a full stop (period, dot, “.”). The complete domain name of each node is the string of names of nodes leading to the root node, each separated by a dot. The sequence is written from left to right with increasing order of scope, e.g., node-d.node-c.node-b.node-a. When the full name path of a node is specified, the domain name is said to be fully-qualified (cf. Fully qualified domain name). This condition is often, particularly in the technical aspects of DNS), indicated explicitly by appending a dot at the end of the name (to indicate the root domain).
The DNS methodology confers a unique name to every resource or service participating in the domain name system. This name is referred to as the domain name of a device or Internet host. However, not all nodes in the tree system denote a specific device, rather they are parent labels of an entire collection of subordinate nodes. Such nodes are the domains of the Internet. They represent the spaces of autonomy that are delegated by a group of service providers, called domain name registrars.
These registrars are authorized and accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the organization charged with overseeing the name and number systems of the Internet. In addition to IANA, each top-level domain (TLD) is maintained and serviced technically by a sponsoring organization, the TLD Registry. The registry is responsible for maintaining the database of names registered within the TLDs they administer. The registry receives registration information from each domain name registrar authorized to assign names in the corresponding TLD and publishes the information using a special service, the whois protocol.
In this context a domain name is sometimes referred to as a ‘product’ sold by domain name registrars. However, the rules of assignment specify that no legal ownership is conferred with such transactions, only the right of exclusive use and the authority to the name space. Once assigned, a domain name becomes part of the pool of registered domain names and is no longer available for use by anyone else. Colloquially, marketers incorrectly refer to domain names as “web addresses”, however, a web address is actually a fully specified World-Wide Web resource locator, such as http://www.example.org, actually pointing to a web site.
New domain names are usually registered through the registrar for annual terms with a minimum of one year. The maximum length of prepaid registration is often 10 years, but varies depending on the policies of the sponsoring registry of the top-level domain under which registration is sought. Registration periods may be extended, usually at any time, until the end of a grace period after the registration expiration date.
Domain names may be transferred between parties or advertised for ’sale’. This is often called the “domain name aftermarket” (see below). After a domain name registration and the grace period expire, the domain name is either returned to the pool of available names, or receives special treatment by the registrars and could possibly end up in the ‘aftermarket’.
Contents
- 1 Overview
- 2 Examples
- 3 Top-level domains
- 4 Second-level and lower level domains
- 5 Official assignment
- 6 Abuses
- 7 Generic domain names—problems arising from unregulated name selection
- 8 Unconventional domain names
- 9 Premium domain names
- 10 Resale of domain names
- 11 Domain aftermarket prices and trends
- 12 Popular domain prefixes - “E” and “I”
- 13 Branding with a domain name
- 14 Domain name confusion
- 15 References
- 16 See also
- 17 External links
This article primarily discusses registered domain names. See the Domain Name System article for technical discussions about the domain name system and the hostname article for general discussion of naming aspects of Internet hosts.
The most basic functionality of domain names is to provide symbolic representations, i.e., recognizable names, to mostly numerically addressed Internet resources. This abstraction allows any resource (e.g., website) to be moved to a different physical location in the address topology of the network, globally or locally in an intranet, in effect changing the IP address. This translation from domain names to IP addresses (and vice versa) is accomplished with the global facilities of Domain Name System (DNS).
By allowing the use of unique alphabetical addresses instead of numeric ones, domain names allow Internet users to more easily find and communicate with web sites and any other IP-based communications services. The flexibility of the domain name system allows multiple IP addresses to be assigned to a single domain name, or multiple domain names to be services from a single IP address. This means that one server may have multiple roles (such as hosting multiple independent websites), or that one role can be spread among many servers. One IP address can also be assigned to several servers, as used in anycast networking.
By definition (RFC 1034), domain names are restricted to the ASCII letters a through z (case-insensitive), the digits 0 through 9, and the hyphen, with some other restrictions in terms of name length and position of hyphens. Since this does not allow the use of many characters commonly found in non-English languages, and no multi-byte characters necessary for most Asian languages, the Internationalized domain name (IDN) system has been developed and is now in testing stage with a set of top-level domains established for this purpose.
The underscore character is frequently used to ensure that a domain name is not recognized as a hostname, as with the use of SRV records, for example, although some older systems such as NetBIOS did allow it. To avoid confusion and for other reasons, domain names with underscores in them are sometimes used where hostnames are required.
Domain names are often referred to simply as domains and domain name registrants are frequently referred to as domain owners, although domain name registration with a registrar does not confer any legal ownership of the name, only an exclusive right of use.
The following example illustrates the difference between a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) and a domain name:
URL: http://www.example.net/index.html
Domain name: www.example.net
Registered domain name: example.net
As a general rule, the IP address and the server name are interchangeable. For most Internet services, the server will not have any way to know which was used. However, the explosion of interest in the Web means that there are far more Web sites than servers. To accommodate this, the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) specifies that the client tells the server which name is being used. This way, one server with one IP address can provide different sites for different domain names. This feature goes under the name virtual hosting and is commonly used by Web hosts.
For example, as referenced in RFC 2606 (Reserved Top Level DNS Names), the server at IP address 208.77.188.166 handles all of the following sites:
example.com
www.example.com
example.net
www.example.net
example.org
www.example.org
When a request is made, the data corresponding to the hostname requested is provided to the user.
Every domain name ends in a top-level domain (TLD) name, which is always either one of a small list of generic names (three or more characters), or a two-character territory code based on ISO-3166 (there are few exceptions and new codes are integrated case by case). Top-level domains are sometimes also called first-level domains.
The generic top-level domain (gTLD) extensions are
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The country code top-level domain (ccTLD) extensions are:
|
||||||