| Domain names are site names that provide | | | | Every domain name ends in a top-level domain (TLD) |
| rememberable names to stand in for numeric IP | | | | name, which is always either one of a small list of |
| addresses. Before getting a web site on line you | | | | generic names (three or more characters), or a two |
| need to have a domain name. These are the familiar | | | | characters territory code. There are several |
| web addresses such as that most browsers use to | | | | extensions available. The most common is .com - it |
| find a particular web site. Domain names, in fact, are | | | | has even entered common vocabulary as a way to |
| pointers to a particular IP address and we use them | | | | express Internet activity - (I own a dot com |
| because they are easier to remember than a series | | | | business). Other extensions include .biz (for |
| of numbers. The Domain Name System (DNS) is a | | | | commercial sites), .org (for non-commercial |
| system that stores information associated with | | | | organisations), .net (for organisations involved in |
| domain names in a distributed database on networks, | | | | Internet infrastructure) and .name (for personal |
| such as the Internet. The DNS is what makes it | | | | names). There are also extensions with more |
| possible to attach hard-to-remember IP addresses | | | | specialized uses such as .museum, .aero, and .coop |
| (such as 193.456.28.8.) to easy-to-remember domain | | | | and are used exclusively by members of certain |
| names (such as "web-hosting-guide.org") | | | | organizations. In addition to these common |
| All websites have an IP address in the form | | | | extensions, there can also be a country code |
| 193.456.28.8. The domain name system translates | | | | extension such as .us (United States) or .uk (United |
| these numbers into names such as All domain names | | | | Kingdom). The rules for using country extensions |
| are registered in a central registry maintained by | | | | vary, so you need to check with your registrar to |
| InterNIC, a subsidiary of ICANN - the organization | | | | see if they are available to you. |
| which certifies domain name registrars. Domain names | | | | All domains must be registered with a registrar that |
| are filtered through Domain Name Servers (DNS) | | | | has been certified by ICANN (Internet Corporation |
| which link IP addresses with domain names. Each web | | | | for Assigned Names and Numbers). There are |
| site usually has a primary and a secondary DNS - | | | | hundreds of registrars and their prices vary |
| duplicates that increase reliability. | | | | considerably. Although registrars are closely regulated, |
| The first step in registering a domain name is to | | | | they are permitted to offer their services through |
| choose it. The name can be almost anything you | | | | third parties; so many web hosts offer a domain |
| want, but to be most effective it should reflect the | | | | name registration service even if they are not a |
| nature of your website. If you are selling scented | | | | registrar. The price of a domain name will usually be |
| candles, for example, it helps to have a domain name | | | | higher when dealing with these third-party services. |
| that has some reference to candles - | | | | Domain names are usually registered for a minimum |
| scented-candles.org.uk for example. | | | | of one year, although you are permitted to buy up |
| The rules for domain names are simple - only letters, | | | | to a 10-year registration contract. Usually the longer |
| numbers or hyphens are allowed. Other than that, a | | | | the registration contract, the lower the price, so if |
| domain name is limited to 70 characters, but you are | | | | you are sure you will be on the web for a |
| advised to keep it as short as possible. Domain | | | | considerable length of time you can benefit from a |
| names can be upper or lower case - case is ignored | | | | longer registration period. Most registrars also offer a |
| by DNS but you can use a combination to make the | | | | discount on bulk purchases. If you own a number of |
| name more recognizable. Since DNS is | | | | domain names you can save money by transferring |
| case-insensitive, can be advertised as | | | | them all to the same registrar. |