What Is a Domain Name?
New to hosting and not sure what the term domain refers to exactly? Or perhaps you already know what it is but want to learn more about it?
No matter what your experience level is, this article will cover all the basics in simple words. After reading it, you will clearly understand what a domain is, how it works, and its different parts.
We will also show you how and where you can get one for yourself.
So read on to learn more.
The domain name basics
Put simply, domain names are strings of characters that allow us to access websites easily. An example would be “google.com” or “facebook.com.”
Today, we could argue that it’s one of the most important assets representing your business. So if you’re deciding on a name, try to keep it as short and memorable as possible.
You use a domain name every time you type it in the browser’s address bar and then press “enter.” As by magic, this action then opens the desired website in your browser.
But before domains were first introduced back in 1983, people had to remember strings of numbers to access websites. This method was much less convenient, as you can imagine.
Now that you know what a domain is, let’s see what each of its parts is for.
Parts of a Domain Name
Every domain name consists of three parts, separated by a “.”.
From right to left, these parts are the top-level domain, the second-level domain, and the third-level domain (subdomain). When you put all of them together, you get a fully qualified domain name.
See the image below for reference.
Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN)
FQDN is a completely specified domain name that starts with a subdomain and ends with a “.”. One such example would be “blog.example.com.“
Top-Level Domain (TLD)
Top-level domains come at the end of each domain name, like “com” in “google.com,” for example.
While there’s a limited number of TLDs to choose from, more and more are being added with time. We list some examples and their intended use cases below.
- com – commercial business
- org – organizations
- gov – government agencies
- edu – educational institutions
Second-Level Domain (SLD)
A second-level domain is what comes before the TLD. So “google” in “google.com,” for example.
This is the most significant part of a domain name when it comes to branding.
Third-Level Domain (Subdomain)
Third-level domain, or subdomain, is the part of a domain that comes before the second-level domain, such as “blog” in “blog.google.com.”
You might be surprised that “www” in www.example.com is also just another subdomain.
How Domains Work
As you probably know by now, computers and servers use IP addresses to identify each other on a network. So what makes domain names work, then?
The infrastructure that makes domains work is called the domain name system or DNS. It’s made out of DNS servers spread out worldwide for faster propagation.
You see, every time you type a domain name into a browser, it goes through the DSN process and returns the IP of the website’s server.
Your browser adds a “.” at the end of the URL and then reads the name from right to left. First, it consults the root (.) DNS nameservers by asking them where the TLD DNS nameserver is. Then, it consults the TLD DNS nameservers to get information about the authoritative nameserver (which is usually the domain’s registrar). Finally, the authoritative nameserver returns the website’s server IP address to the browser.
Now you know how they work, so let’s see how to get one.
How to Get a Domain Name
Getting a domain name is easy. You can either buy one at a domain registrar or get it for free when you purchase a yearly hosting subscription. Alternatively, you can consider getting a truly free domain name with a free TLD.
To buy a domain name from a Registrar, just visit its website and use its search function to find an available domain. After that, you will just need to pay for the first year’s domain registration, and you’re all set.
To get a free domain name from a hosting company, make sure it’s included with the hosting plan. Then once you purchase the plan, you will be offered to register a new domain for free for one year.
In order to get a truly and permanently free domain, you can use the Freenom registrar. This isn’t the most lucrative choice, but it’s worth considering due to its wide variety of TLD extensions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a domain name?
It’s a memorable name that we use to easily access a website.
How do domains work?
Domain names are converted to IP addresses by the browser. The browser gets this information by communicating with DNS servers spread worldwide.
How do I get a domain name?
Domain names are sold by domain registrars such as Simply.com, GoDaddy or Namecheap. To get one, you would just sign up on their website, search for the domain name and then purchase it.
What does a domain name cost?
That primarily depends on the registrar and the TLD type. So let’s consider .com as an example. For the first year, you can find it for under $10 and even free of charge with some hosting plans. But for the second year and future renewals, expect to pay upwards of $14.
What Is the most affordable domain registrar?
Namecheap is the number one registrar when it comes to low prices.
Can I get a free domain name?
Yes, just visit freenom.com, and you’re all set.
Who manages domain names?
Domains are managed by domain registries and sold through domain registrars.
What’s the difference between a domain name and a URL?
In addition to the domain name, such as domain.com, a URL contains a protocol such as http:// or https:// at its beginning.
What’s the difference between domains and hosting?
Domains are just addresses, or shortcuts if you will. Hosting is the service of renting a server where the actual website files will be located. To have a website, you need hosting, but to access it more conveniently, you need a domain.
Final Words
Alright, time to wrap this up.
You should now have a clear understanding of what a domain is, what each part means, and how it all works. For additional questions, you can read our other articles about domain names.
If you ever wanted to start a new business or a personal blog, now there’s one less obstacle in your way. So why not take action today?
