What is a domain name? A beginner’s guide to domain pricing and more

A domain is the address; a website is the content at that address. A domain name alone does not create a website; you also need web hosting to store the site files and make them accessible online.

A URL, or uniform resource locator, is the full address of a specific page, including the protocol, domain, and path; for example, https://example.com/about. The domain name is just the core part; example.com; without the protocol or path.

Domain name registration; often called domain registration; is the process of registering a domain name through an accredited domain registrar. You search for an available name, choose an extension, pay the registration fee, and the domain is assigned to you for the registration period; typically one year, renewable. Once registered, you become the domain owner and your details are listed with the registry as the domain holder. Registered domain names are publicly searchable via WHOIS, and domain ownership can be verified through the registrar at any time. Prices and available extensions vary by registrar.

Your domain name choice has an indirect effect on search rankings. meaning both choosing the extension as well as the domain itself are important. However, domain-related factors beyond the cctld vs gtld decision, are a tiny portion of the SEO picture. Factors like the quality of the content on the site or external authority are more significant ranking factors.

Yes. Most domains can be transferred between registrars after a 60-day lock period following initial registration. Transfer costs vary by extension and registrar; compare them on TLD-list before initiating a transfer.

If you need a domain for a new business website, start with your business name. The perfect domain name is short, easy to spell, and matches your brand. Check whether the domain name you want is available; most registrars have a search tool to confirm if the domain is available before you buy. If your first choice is taken, try a different domain extension or a slight variation. Custom domain names with a .com extension remain the most recognisable, but a relevant new gTLD can work just as well.

To buy a domain name, go to a domain name registrar, search for the name you want, and complete the checkout to finalise your domain registration. Most registrars also provide domain management tools, letting you update name server settings, configure domain privacy, and renew before expiry. You can also purchase a domain through auction if your preferred name is already taken. When you buy a domain, you pay for the right to use that address for one year at a time; purchase the domain for multiple years upfront to lock in the current rate and keep your domain secure. To get a domain name bundled with hosting, some providers include one free for the first year.

A domain name and website hosting are two separate services. A domain is the address people type to find your website; website hosting is where your site files are stored and served from. You need a domain to have a website on the internet, but you buy them independently. Some providers bundle both; your domain host may offer hosting alongside registration, or your website hosting plan may include a free domain for the first year. For users to access a website, both a domain and hosting must be in place. Once connected, visitors who type your website address will find your website without knowing the underlying IP address. For any site that needs a domain for both website and email, you configure both through DNS.

A domain name is a unique, human-readable identifier; also called an internet domain name; that serves as the address of a website you type into a browser. The domain name is used to access websites instead of the raw numeric IP address assigned to each server. The domain name vs IP address distinction is practical: the domain name system maps each name to its corresponding IP automatically, so visitors never need to memorise a number. The full technical term for a domain and its complete path is a fully qualified domain name (FQDN).

The root domain; also called the main domain; is the core registered address, for example, example.com. Adding a prefix like blog. to the root creates a prefixed address, such as blog.example.com, as a separate section of your site. It is part of the same registered domain and does not need its own registration. A third-level domain follows the same pattern: blog is a third-level domain structure within example.com. The primary domain is the canonical root used as your main website address. Whether you choose the root domain vs a prefix-based structure depends on whether you want a subsection of your existing site or a fully standalone address.

WHOIS is a public lookup service that shows registration details for any domain name. When a domain owner registers a name, their contact information is recorded in the WHOIS database. You can search any domain’s WHOIS record to find the domain holder’s contact details, registration and expiry dates, and the registrar managing the domain. Many registrars offer domain privacy; also called WHOIS privacy; to replace the domain holder’s personal details with the registrar’s information instead. WHOIS is also used to verify domain ownership when resolving disputes.

A name server is the DNS server that holds the authoritative DNS records for a domain. It stores the domain name databases for that domain, including records that point to your web hosting and email services. When you register a domain, the registrar assigns default name servers, which you can update to point to a different hosting provider. Most domains are assigned at least two name servers for redundancy. Updating your name server settings is how you connect a domain to hosting or switch providers without buying a new domain.

The global domain name system is overseen by ICANN; the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. ICANN manages domain names globally through accreditation of registrars and coordination with domain registries that operate individual top-level domain extensions. Each TLD registry maintains the domain name space for its extension: Verisign, for example, manages the .com registry. ICANN’s accreditation system ensures every domain name is unique across the internet and that domain name registration follows consistent global standards.