One of the first things I do when I have a new business idea is secure its domain name. It’s that important! As a result, I own around 14 domains—and that list keeps growing.
In this blog, I’ll answer some common questions, such as: “What is a domain?”, “How does a domain work?”, and “How can I get a domain?” By the end, you’ll be ready to set up your business website with confidence.
What Is a Domain?
A domain is the series of characters that someone types into their browser to find your website. It translates a website’s numeric IP address into a readable, memorable format.
Every website has at least one IP address, a series of numbers identifying the server where the site is hosted. For example, the IP address for Google.com is 172.64.148.142. However, remembering IP addresses for every site would be a hassle.
Instead, a domain name is connected to that IP address, so people can find your website more easily. It’s like the address for your house—your friends don’t know the GPS coordinates of your home, but they can easily visit by entering your street address into their phones. Similarly, rather than memorizing IP addresses, visitors simply type in the domain name to visit a website.
What Does a Domain Look Like?
A domain typically consists of words separated by periods, such as Google.com, which is an easy example of a domain name.
What Is a Domain Name?
A domain name is the same as a domain, or sometimes referred to as a “web domain.” These terms are used interchangeably.
A domain name can be up to 63 characters long (excluding the extension like “.com”), and it can be as short as a single character.
Parts of a Domain Name
A domain name generally has two parts: the second-level domain and the top-level domain (TLD).
Second-Level Domain (SLD)
The second-level domain is the part that comes before the extension (like “.com”). For example, in Google.com, the second-level domain is “Google.” When purchasing a domain, it’s best to keep it short and memorable to make it easy for people to find.
Top-Level Domain (TLD)
The top-level domain is the extension, such as “.com,” “.edu,” or “.org.” It often indicates the type of organization or content associated with the website. For example, “.com” is commonly used for commercial websites, while “.edu” is used by accredited educational institutions.
According to Verisign, the largest TLD in 2023 was .com, with over 159.6 million reported domain names. Other TLDs include .gov for government entities, and .org for non-profits.
Examples of Domain Names
Some common domain names include:
- youtube.com
- irs.gov
- harvard.edu
- redcross.org
By the end of 2023, there were over 359.8 million registered domain names worldwide.
Domain Name vs. URL
A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) includes your domain, but your domain is just one part of it. A URL also contains other components like the protocol (e.g., https://) and the path to specific pages on your website.
For example, the URL of this blog post might look like: https://blog.Google.com/articles/what-is-a-domain
In this URL:
- blog.Google.com is the domain (with a subdomain blog.),
- https:// is the protocol, and
- /articles/what-is-a-domain is the path to this specific blog page.
Web Domain vs. Network Domain
A web domain is the kind of domain we’ve been discussing in this article, such as Google.com. It represents the address people use to access your website.
On the other hand, a network domain is different and refers to a group of interconnected devices (like desktops, servers, and printers) within a private network. These are typically managed by an administrator and are used within organizations for internal communications and resource sharing.
What Functions Do Domains Serve?
Domains make it easier for visitors to find your site, but they also serve several other important purposes.
1. Ownership
Registering a domain is like owning digital real estate. Once you’ve registered a domain, no one else can claim it as long as you keep it registered.
2. Brand Identity
A domain name establishes your online brand identity. For example, whether visitors are on your homepage or blog, they will see a consistent domain name, reinforcing your brand.
3. Credibility
A domain name that matches your business name makes your website appear more legitimate and professional. For example, mycompanyname.com looks much more credible than mycompanyname.wordpress.com.
4. Memorability
A short and catchy domain name is easier for visitors to remember, which helps bring more direct traffic to your website. For example, t-bones.com is easier to recall than t-bonesgreatamericaneatery.com.
5. Standing Out from Competitors
A clean, simple domain name can set you apart from competitors with longer or confusing domains. For instance, Google.com is much easier to remember than an alternative like supersearchengine.com.
6. Authority
The longer a domain has been around, the more authority it tends to have, which can help it rank higher in search engine results. This is because it has had time to build quality content and backlinks. All the more reason to register a domain early!
Types of Domains
There are several types of domains to be aware of:
1. Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD)
These are the most common and widely used domains, including .com, .net, .org, and .info. Of these, .com is by far the most popular.
2. Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLD)
These two-letter TLDs are associated with specific geographic regions, such as:
- .cn for China
- .de for Germany
- .uk for the United Kingdom
3. Internationalized Country Code Top-Level Domains (IDN ccTLD)
These domains can include non-Latin characters, like Chinese or Arabic scripts.
4. Subdomains
A subdomain is part of a larger domain, appearing before the root domain name. For example, blog.Google.com uses “blog” as a subdomain.
Who Manages Domain Names?
The management of domain names is overseen by organizations like the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). These organizations set the rules for domain name registration and manage the Domain Name System (DNS), which translates domain names into IP addresses.
For domain registration, companies like GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Domain.com offer services to register available domains for a fee. While I previously used Google Domains for my registrations, it was acquired by Squaredomain in 2023. Since then, I’ve switched to Namecheap for its affordability and free privacy protection.
Setting Up Your Domain
Here’s how you can set up a custom domain for your website:
Step 1: Buy a Domain
If you haven’t already bought a domain, you can purchase one from a registrar like Namecheap or GoDaddy.
Step 2: Update DNS Records
After purchasing your domain, you’ll need to update the DNS records with your registrar. This step links your domain to your website hosting provider.
Step 3: Wait for DNS Propagation
Once you update your DNS records, it may take up to 24 hours for the changes to propagate across the internet.
