What is Domain Name?
A domain name is a unique address which identifies a collection of web pages that the public can access. The collection of web pages make up what we generally call a web site.
The domain name can consist of a combination words, letters and/or dashes. For example, eBusinessDomains.com is the domain name, while the homepage is just one of the pages that make up the website for www.eBusinessDomains.com.
Domain names are unique. There is only one eBusinessDomains.com. A Domain name identifies a web site and allow users to get to it without having to know the technical details of it’s IP address.
Simply put, a domain name is like your home address. By giving a street address, city and postcode, your home address can be easily located. Imagine if you had to give the exact longitude and latitude instead.
Components of a Domain Name
Each domain name has at least 2 components. There is the second-level domain and the top-level domain (TLD). With the domain name eBusinessDomains.com, “eBusinessDomains” is the second-level domain, while “.com” is the top-level domain.
We can choose/create any second-level domain that we wish, but we have a limited number of top-level domains to choose from. We can only register/buy a combination of second-level domain and top-level domain if that combination (referred to as the domain name) is not yet taken.
Valid Top-Level Domains
A top-level domain (TLD) is the last part of a domain name; that is, the letters that follow the final dot of any domain name.
The management of most top-level domains is delegated to responsible parties or organizations by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
Some of the major top-level domains are listed below.
.COM – used for commercial purposes. This is an open TLD; any person or entity is permitted to register.
.NET – used by network service providers. This is an open TLD; any person or entity is permitted to register.
.ORG – used by organizations and non-profit entities. This is an open TLD; any person or entity is permitted to register.
.BIZ – commonly used by businesses. This is an open TLD; any person or entity is permitted to register.
.INFO – used by information related sites. This is an open TLD; any person or entity is permitted to register.
.GOV – used only by governmental entities. This TLD is not open to everyone.
.Mobi – this is used by mobile devices, and should be used for mobile compatible websites.
There are many other TLDs which are used by a variety of entities. The ones listed above are the most commonly used.
Country TLDs
Almost every country has got their own TLD. This can be quite useful in identifying where the website originated fro or its target audience and/or market.
Here is a list of some of the popular Country TLDs:
.CO.UK – United Kingdom
.US – United States of America
.DE – Germany
.AU – Australia
.EU – European Union
.CA – Canada
.CN – China
.FR – France
.IT – Italy
.NZ – New Zealand
.RU – Russia
.JP – Japan
.IN – India
How to Obtain Domain Names (Buying/Registering Domain Names)
Domain names have to be registered through companies called Domain Registrars. Domain registration is as simply as doing a search for your desired domain name to check availability and following a simple checkout process to register the domain name if it is available.
A very good Domain Registrar to use is Widest.com. They consistently offer cheap domain registration. They also offer web hosting, custom logo and website design services, giving you the opportunity to get your entire domain and website needs met from one portal.
Domain names have to be renewed for a small fee each year. Normally this is the same as the registration fee, which can be anywhere between US$10 and US$125.
Failure to renew domain name subscriptions will result in the Domain Registrar cancelling the domain name and dropping it. The domain name would then become available for anyone to register it and assume full ownership and control. These domain names that are cancelled by the registrar because of –non-renewal of registration fees are often referred to as Expired Domains.
If you fail to renew your domain name, your visitors will not be able to find your site, and will be directed instead to the website of the new owner. This is absolutely legal.
To prevent your domain name from expiring, domain registrars such as Widest.com will send out reminders via email from as early as 90 days before the expiry date. It is therefore absolutely important to ensure that the email address that the registrar holds for you is correct and current.
Domain names can be registered for a minimum period of 1 year and a maximum of 10 years. |
Kevin Jackson is the founder of eBusinessDomains.com and Exdon,com. You can sign up for his domain newsletter at eBusinessDomains.com and view his premium domains blog at PremiumDomainsBlog.com.
This article may be reprinted providing it is published in it's entirety, including the author's bio and link to eBusinessDomains.com.
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