What is a Domain Name, and How Does it Work?

Blog Marker June 25 2023

What is a domain name?

The domain name is the website address to your website that you type in the browser’s address bar (www.yourwebsite.com) to visit a specific website. Just like in real life, we can’t visit someone’s house if we don’t know their exact address; each address is unique to its owners; no one else can obtain the same domain with the same domain TLD extension.

How the domain name works

When you purchase and register a domain name, you register an IP address; The registration process automatically assigns your chosen domain name for that IP address you purchased; every website has a unique IP, a random string of numbers 75.254.121.306. Without the domain names, visitors would need to enter that IP number to access your website. Instead, the domain name is just a human-friendly, simple, easy to remember, and recall alternative name assigned to that unique IP address; anyone can type in to visit your website.

When we type in the domain name in the browser bar and hit enter, your computer sends a request to the DNS (Domain Name System). DNS is the centralized system that stores data about which domain name is linked to which IP address, looks up and checks the actual IP address, points your computer to the associated website domain name, and directs the visitors to the right page. Hence, the DNS is a kind of internet directory.

What are the best domain extensions?

The TLD (Top Level Domain) is the end portion of the domain name like .com, .org. net, all extensions work the exact none is better than the other, some are expensive, and some are affordable. Still, each has meaning; for example, the .org extension is for non-profit organizations, .gov is for government, and .edu is for education; there are many newer TLDs like .blog, .shop, and .games. However, the .com is still the most common one and is the most preferred extension because of its popularity.

What are the subdomains?

Subdomains are like the microsites of your main website subdomain.maindomain.com, for example, blog.blogmarker.com; subdomain is treated as totally different websites.

Where to buy a domain?

You buy a domain name from any domain registrar like NameCheap , GoDaddy, and Google Domains. I prefer NameCheap myself. Also, Some hosting service providers like DreamHost and BlueHost provide domain search and registration and free the first year of domain registration when you purchase a hosting plan.

Domain name trading

When you purchase a domain name for your website or blog, you register it as part of a public record; the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ICANN is responsible for maintaining a directory of who owns which domain(s) on the web. It is worth noting that ICANN records include your contact data.
If you decide you no longer want or need a domain name you registered, you can resell it, and the selling price depends on many factors like the name keywords, length, and extension.