What is a Domain Name (aka Domain)?
A domain name is an alias for an IP address. Now what is an IP address? An IP address is a numeric code that tells computers where to look through the Internet for content or more rightly a website. An example of an IP address would be 70.85.248.194. Rather than typing in a kind of complex and easily forgotten IP address, a domain name helps you by typing an easily remembered name to access the same site. For example, in the URL http://www.ireadysites.com/index.html, the domain name is ireadysites.com.
Every domain name has a suffix that indicates which top level domain (TLD) it belongs to. There are only a limited number of such domains. For example:
- gov – Government agencies
- edu – Educational institutions
- org – Organizations (nonprofit)
- mil – Military
- com – commercial business
- net – Network organizations
The domain name represents your web site (e.g. residential, commercial, reverse mortgage, or real estate website). It provides a means for connectivity with your web hosting. It must be unique and no two people or companies can have the same domain for their site.
There are Two Types of Domain Names:
- INTERNIC Domain Names / TLDs
- Country Domain Names / SLDs
INTERNIC Domain Names:
These are used for international purpose, like you have an online store or information website which is for international and local online visitors. One thing which is very important to know is the INTERNIC Domain Names are mostly quite cheap as compare to other types. Some Internic Domain Names are also very expensive (i.e. .edu) and also need lots of documents and approvals before registration.
In easy words you can say – TLD stands for Top Level Domain. This includes any domain names which suffix is .com, .net, .org, .biz, .us, .info
Country Domain Names:
These kinds of domain names represent the website topic for any specific region or country, it doesn’t mean that these website will not be display in other countries. The websites which having the country domain names just represent the subject and relation of website.
Again putting it simply – SLD stands for Second Level Domain. This includes any domain names which suffix is .co.in, .com.pl, .com.cn, .co.uk, .org.tw and .co.at
A word of advice though, don’t buy domain name before consultation with regards to your need and requirements of your web site because most of the companies providing web hosting and domain registration service together also offer free domain name with hosting.
Another very important thing is that when you buy web hosting from the company who is offering you free domain registration, then ask who will have the authority of domain name. Because such companies mostly do not give you authority and details if you need to transfer you domain name to some other registrar.
Next thing would be Hosting so stay tuned…
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