By Website Domain: Know This Before You Get One
One question you might be wondering is, “What is a website domain?” Although we frequently hear the term used in connection with websites, we are frequently unaware of its precise definition. Indeed, much like a URL or a website, it can be easy to mistakenly believe that a domain is something entirely different. Because of this, comparing domains to those two items is one of the best ways to understand them. We’ll discuss each of them.
Table of Contents
- A website domain: what is it?
- A website: what is it?
- Domain components for a website
- Who is in charge of maintaining the website domain name system?
- Website domain privacy: what is it?
- Obtaining a website domain name
- Hosting of websites
- Commonly asked questions concerning website domain names
- Conclusion
A website domain: what is it?
A website domain name is simply the name of a website. A domain is the address that users enter into a web browser when browsing the internet. For instance, hostlingo.com is the web domain name of this website. As a result, it is just the name of a website, and the web domain and website domain definitions are the same. The web address can also be referred to as the web domain.
IP addresses can be used to identify websites, but they are difficult for people to remember. For this reason, domain names are used to make website names easier to remember. Hostlingo.com is an illustration of what a domain name looks like. The site name would be the equivalent of a real physical site.
A website: what is it?
A URL is the address that instructs browsers on how to access a website, whereas a domain is the name of a website. However, neither is a webpage.
The actual pages, images, text, and other elements that users view and interact with on your screen make up a website. In the example we have been using, the physical equivalent would be the Hostlingo site itself, complete with all of its surroundings and merchandise.
Domain components for a website
The name and the extension are the two main parts of a website’s domain. We can examine this by going back to the Hostlingo.com example. In that case, the name is “hostlingo,” and the extension is “.com.” As long as it isn’t already in use, a domain’s name can be almost anything. Basically, any string of characters and numbers would do. Ideally, though, the name should be your company’s name. In contrast, the options available in the extension are more restricted. However, the most popular is “.com.” A few more options include “.gov,” “.org,” and “.net,” among many others. Most likely, using “.com” is the best option for your website.
Who is in charge of maintaining the website domain name system?
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) oversees domain names. The organization that develops and carries out the domain name policies is non-profit.
ICANN authorizes companies known as domain name registrars to sell domain names. On your behalf, these domain registrars are permitted to make changes to the domain name registry.
In addition to managing records, transfers to other registrars, and renewals, domain name registrars can also sell domain names.
It is your duty as the domain name owner to instruct the registrar to whom to forward requests. Additionally, it is your responsibility to renew your domain registration.
Website domain privacy: What is it?
A domain name is registered as part of a public record when it is purchased. Keeping track of who is the owner of each domain name on the internet is the responsibility of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Your contact details, however, are part of ICANN’s records, which you might not want made public. If you purchase domain privacy, your personal information is hidden and not included in this record. WHOIS protection is another term occasionally used to describe domain privacy.
Obtaining a website domain name
“What does domain mean?” was the first question we asked. We can now look at how to purchase a domain name and use it to create a website after we have responded to that and seen the function of a website domain.
Registrars of websites domain names
You need to purchase your domain name from a domain name registrar like Hostlingo. It is permitted for these registrars to sell domain names that are available for purchase. Prepare a list of desired domain names before you begin your search.
Ideally, it should be as easy as possible. If your company is called Mannet Interiors, you may want to try mannetinteriors.com or even mannet.com.
Your choice of name will affect your marketing because it will be more difficult for users to find your website if it is too long or difficult to remember.
However, don’t become overly attached to a particular name because it might not end up being available. You should be able to find out from the registrar whether the desired domain is available. You can register it for your business if it is. If not, you’ll need to think of another use for it or make an offer to buy the domain. Use a domain valuation tool to obtain an accurate estimate prior to making a purchase. Additionally, bear in mind that domain names can expire, so you should periodically renew them.
Hosting of websites
Even though your website is complete, you are not. You need to complete one more step in order to start the process.
This is due to the fact that a website differs greatly from a physical store in that it must be globally accessible through digital means. Your website must be physically kept on a server somewhere for this to occur. Additionally, it must be stored so that any computer that visits the website can quickly access the site’s data. Read more on website hosting.
You must hire a web host to rent space for that. Many registrars offer both domain registration and web hosting services, giving you the convenient option to do both in one place. Of course, you can register your domain with one registrar and rent it from a web host separately. A very good web hosting service you can trust to do the job is Hostlingo. It has very good and affordable offers, as well as a strong SSL you can trust.
Commonly Asked Questions Concerning Website Domain Names
There are lots of questions people often ask about domain names.
The answers to some of the most frequently asked questions concerning domain names are provided below.
1. Describe a subdomain
Basically, a subdomain is a child domain that resides under the parent domain name. One of hostlingo.com’s subdomains is blogs.hostlingo.com. Third-level domain names are another term for subdomains.
You are able to independently create subdomains for a domain once you register it.
Websites frequently use subdomains to build child sites that share the same domain name.
For instance, a business website can set up a subdomain called blog.loremipsum.com or store.loremipsum.com for their blog or online store.
2. Can I sell my website domain?
It is possible to sell your domain name. For the web, domain names are comparable to real estate. Excellent, brandable custom domain names are in high demand.
The domain name trading business is worth millions of dollars. Given the low cost of domain names, astute businesspeople are constantly searching for outstanding domain name concepts to acquire.
You can list your domain name for sale on a number of marketplace websites, such as Hostlingo, Sedo, GoDaddy, and others, if you wish to sell it.
Prominent registrars such as Network Solutions and Domain.com also allow you to purchase premium domains directly from their domain search function.
3. Is it possible to transfer my website to a new domain name?
You certainly can. Your hosting server can be the destination for your domain name. It’s also possible to maintain both domain names pointing to the same web page.
Search engine rankings will have an impact on them because search engines view it as duplicate content.
We offer a comprehensive guide that explains how to set up redirects and transfer a website to a new domain name without harming your search engine optimization.
4. Describe website domain privacy. Do I require it?
A phone number, physical address, email address, and other publicly available personal information must be provided when registering a domain name, according to ICANN regulations.
Domain registrars sell domain privacy as an additional add-on service. Instead of displaying your true personal information, it enables you to display proxy data.
If you choose not to, it is not a must to purchase domain privacy. But you can purchase this service for a nominal fee if privacy is an issue for you.
5. What is the www? Is that included in website domain names?
WWW is short for World Wide Web. Some experts began using it to denote that something was a web address in the early days of the internet.
Though most websites no longer use www in their website addresses, it is not a requirement. www is, in theory, a subdomain of your primary domain name. A subdomain is any domain name that appears before your primary domain, while a dot follows it, such as blogs.hostlingo.com.
6. How do I discover the owner of a domain name?
To discover who is the owner of a domain name, use the “Whois” lookup tool. You will see the proxy data supplied by the registrar, though, if the domain name is using domain privacy.
7. Can I purchase multiple domain names?
Yes, you are able to purchase an unlimited number of domain names.
8. Is it possible for me to unregister a domain name?
Owners of domains may cancel their registration at any moment with certain registrars. Your registration will open up for other people to register if you cancel.
You can choose to just let your domain registration expire with other domain name registrars.
You won’t typically receive a refund for registering a domain. Before canceling your registration, you might want to check with certain domain registrars about their refund policies. Your domain name will simply expire after the paid registration period if you haven’t enabled the auto-renew feature.
9. What distinguishes a domain name from a URL?
The acronym for Uniform Resource Locator is URL. It is a website address that directs you to a particular file or page.
A domain name can find a specific website by itself. Your browser will change a domain name (such as wpbeginner.com) into a URL (such as https://wpbeginner.com) and direct you to the home page of the website that corresponds with that domain name.
Every file or page that you view online has a unique URL. For example, the URL for this page appears in the address bar above in your browser.
10. What distinguishes a website from a domain name?
Files such as HTML pages, images, website builders, and more make up a website. It offers you and your company a web presence. Web hosting is the place where your website resides if your domain name is its web address.
11. How Do HTTP and HTTPS Differ?
The Hypertext Transfer Protocol is referred to as HTTP. The technology used to access information on the internet is known as internet protocol.
The HTTPs, which stand for Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol, come after it. A website that uses HTTPs is using SSL, a secure protocol for online data transmission.
Conclusion
Even though there are a lot of variables involved in the domain name industry, they are actually quite easy to comprehend. In the long run, it will pay off if you learn everything you can about them because it will make it easier for you to build, manage, and even sell websites. We went into great detail about domain names in this post, including their definition and operation, some advice on how to pick, buy, and sell them, and answered some of the most commonly asked questions about domain names. Do you have more questions or comments regarding domain names? Put them in the space provided for comments below!
