What is a Domain Name? The Beginner's Guide

Have you ever wondered what a domain name is when creating a website or checking out a neat site online? Understanding domains is key for anyone building their online presence.

In this comprehensive beginner’s guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about domains and domain names, including:

What a domain and domain name are
The different parts that make up a domain name
Why domains and domain names are important
How domains work with IP addresses and servers
The most popular types of domain name extensions
How to check if a domain name is available
Where to buy, register and manage domains
Tips for choosing the perfect domain name

After reading, you’ll understand the ins and outs of domains so you can choose the right one for your website and online brand. Let’s dive in.

Table of Contents

What is a Domain?

In simple terms, a domain refers to your website address. It’s the human-readable name that people type into their browsers to access your site, like “google.com” or “facebook.com”.

Technically speaking, a domain – also called a domain name – is an identification string that maps to the numeric IP address of a web server.

For example, PixelSprout’s website domain is pixelsproutacademy.com. The domain name pixelsproutacademy.com is much easier for people to remember than PixelSprout’s actual IP address, which is a bunch of numbers (102.154.79.105).

So domains act as an easy-to-remember shortcut that point visitors to the correct web server IP address. Instead of entering a complex IP address, visitors can just type your domain name into their browser.

This allows them to easily access your website or webpage.

How Domains Work with IP Addresses

As mentioned above, domains are linked to the IP address of a website. Here’s a bit more detail on how that works:

Every device connected to the internet has a unique IP address made up of numbers. Servers that host websites are no different.

The problem is IP addresses are hard for humans to remember. That’s why domains – unique names made up of letters like “amazon” or “google” – were created.

Domains map to the IP addresses of web servers through Domain Name System (DNS) servers. So when someone types a domain name into their browser, DNS servers find the corresponding IP address of the web server that hosts the site.

The browser can then use that IP address to locate and display the correct website.

Instead of making you use the raw IP address, domains provide an easy-to-remember shortcut to websites.

Why are Domains and Domain Names Important?

Now that you know what domains are, let’s talk about why they matter for building an online presence.

There are several key reasons securing a domain name is important:

1. Own Your Website Address

Registering a domain gives you ownership over your website or webpage’s address. No one else can claim it or use it while you own it.

This grants you full control over what website or content the domain points to, who hosts it, what information is linked to the domain, and whether you eventually want to sell or transfer it.

2. Strengthen Your Brand Identity

An awesome domain name reinforces what your brand, product, or company is about. Your domain should be short, catchy, and easy to remember.

For example, if you run an online shoe store called “Kickin Shoes”, then kickinshoes.com perfectly captures your brand name. By matching your domain to your business identity, it sticks in customer’s minds.

3. Establish Credibility

A domain name that matches your business name comes across as more professional and credible. It shows site visitors you are serious about your online presence.

Generic domains provided for free with some website builders, like mywebsite.wordpress.com, simply don’t look or feel as legitimate. Secure your own custom domain to take your site and brand to the next level.

4. Improve Website Memorability

An easy-to-remember domain name also means more visitors accessing your site directly by typing your domain into their browser. The simpler your domain, the easier it is to recall.

Just think – what would be easier to remember: apple.com or computersdesignedincalifornia.com? Obviously apple.com rolls off the tongue, making it super sticky.

5. Stand Out from Competitors

Securing a domain name that perfectly captures your business sets you apart from competitors in the SERPs. Combine a great domain with high quality content, and your site will shine in search results.

For example, if you run an Italian food site, then domains like tastypasta.com or pastalove.com convey what you offer better than a generic myitalianrecipesite.com.

6. Gain Authority

The longer and better your domain has been ranking, the more authority it accrues. Authority passes both link equity and trust to your site.

An older high authority site with lots of quality backlinks will typically outperform a newer domain in search rankings. So secure your domain ASAP to start building authority.

What is a Domain Name? Components Explained

You now understand why domains are critical for a website. But what are they actually made up of? Let’s break down the pieces of a standard domain name:

Image

In the example domain anatomy above, you can see there are typically two or three main parts that make up a domain:

1. Subdomain (Optional)

The subdomain comes before the second level domain. It specifies a subsection or subcategory of the main site, like “support” in support.pixelsproutcademy.com or “blog” in blog.pixelsproutacademy.com.

Not all websites have subdomains. But if you plan on having a blog, forum, help pages, or multiple sites within your domain, subdomains help organize content into logical sections.

2. Second Level Domain (Required)

The second level domain (SLD) is the main unique identifier and brand name for your site. It’s the primary memorable word that comes before the “dot something” top level extension.

For example, the SLD in pixelsproutacademt.com is “pixelsprout” – it identifies the brand and site owner. Similarly, apple.com’s SLD is “apple”.

Your SLD should match your business or brand name when possible to establish credibility.

3. Top Level Domain (Required)

The top level domain (TLD) is the extension after your domain. It signals what type of organization or entity owns the site.

Some examples of generic TLD extensions are:

.com – commercial businesses
.org – non-profit organizations
.net – network providers
.biz – businesses

We’ll cover the different types of TLD extensions more later on. Every domain name requires a valid TLD to work.

Domain Name Length

Domain names can range from 1 to 63 characters long not including the TLD extension. However, shorter domains with 1-3 words work best.

The maximum length of the fully qualified domain name (FQDN), including extensions like .com, is 253 characters. But staying under 63 total characters is recommended.

So in summary – a domain name maps an easy to remember word (instead of numbers) to a website’s IP address. This allows visitors to access the site by typing the domain name into their browsers.

Now let’s look at the common domain name extensions websites use.

Types of Top Level Domain Extensions

The top level domain or TLD signifies what type of organization owns a domain. Choosing the right TLD is key for suggesting authority, professionalism, and relevancy to your audience.

There are two main types of top level domain extensions sites use: generic TLDs (gTLDs) and country code TLDs (ccTLDs). Let’s explore them in more detail:

A) Generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs)

Generic TLDs can be registered by anyone globally. They represent types of organizations and break down into the following categories:

1. Original legacy gTLDs

The traditional generic extensions that most commercial sites use:

.com – For commercial businesses and websites. The most popular gTLD, used by 142 million+ websites worldwide according to Verisign.
.net – Originally for network providers, but now commonly used by all types of businesses.
.org – For non-profit organizations and charities.
.biz – Intended for businesses, but adopted broadly like .com and .net.

2. Newer specialty gTLDs

Hundreds of additional generic extensions were recently introduced to give sites more options to customize their domains. Some popular examples include:

.blog – For blogs, naturally 😉
.site – Generic websites
.store – Online shops and stores
.app – Web or mobile apps

There are now over 1200 new gTLDs approved. You can search them all on ICANN.

B) Country Code Top Level Domains (ccTLDs)

As the name suggests, country code TLDs specify the country sites originate from. ccTLDs come from two letter country codes like:

.us – United States
.ca – Canada
.uk – United Kingdom
.br – Brazil
.in – India

Using a ccTLD signals visitors that your business operates in or caters to that particular country. This helps establish additional location-based trust and relevance.

Internationalized ccTLDs containing characters from local languages are also becoming more common.

Now that you know the key parts that make up domain names, let’s see some popular domain examples in the wild.

Examples of Domain Names

To solidify your knowledge of domains, here are some popular examples of real second level domains, subdomains, and top level extensions websites currently use:

Second Level Domain Examples

pixelsprout
google
facebook
twitter
microsoft

Subdomain Examples

blog.pixelsproutcademy.com
community.shopify.com
forum.wordpress.org
glitch.com.iop

Generic Top Level Domain Examples

.com – tiktok.com
.org – mozilla.org
.net – huffpost.net

Country Code Top Level Domain Examples

.us – usps.us
.in – pixelsprout.in
.it – ferrari.it
.ca – shopify.ca

Now let’s dive into the all-important step of actually registering your own domain!

How to Check Domain Name Availability

Before registering a domain, it’s critical to check availability to make sure another site isn’t already using the exact name you want. Let’s explore the process.

Step 1) Decide on your ideal domain options

First, brainstorm a list of domain names that fit the following criteria:

Short – 1 or 2 words work best
Memorable – Easy to recall and share
Descriptive – Clear about what you offer
Distinct – Unique from competitors

For example, if you run ACME Prints selling custom 3D-printed gifts, some options could be:

acmeprints
acmeprints.com
acme3dprints.com

Make a list of 3-5 possible domains. You’ll likely have to check several since popular domains go quickly.

Step 2) Use a domain search tool

Next, you’ll want to plug your prospective domains into a domain search engine to confirm availability.

Some popular domain search tools include:

Simply enter your desired domain into one of the above tools to check availability.

Step 3) Filter TLD extensions

When searching, you can leave off the TLD to check availability across multiple extensions.

But it’s a good idea to test your domain name with different popular TLDs like:

yourdomain.com
yourdomain.net
yourdomain.org
yourdomain.biz

See which particular extensions make your domain name available for purchase.

Step 4) Confirm availability

If the domain lookup tool shows your domain as “Available”, congrats – you can move forward to purchase it!

If it says “Unavailable”, that particular name is likely already taken. But don’t worry – just move on to your second or third preferred domain name choice from your list until you find one available.

Once you’ve found an available domain that fits, it’s time to officially buy and register it.

Where to Buy and Register a Domain Name

To officially register your new chosen domain name for use with your site, you’ll need to purchase it from a domain registrar. Let’s look at what registrars are and the top services to use.

What is a Domain Registrar?

A domain name registrar is an accredited company authorized to reserve domain names on behalf of clients like you.

They maintain a record linking your registered domain to identifying details associated with the owner. This data is stored in a global WHOIS database directory all registrars use.

When you buy a domain, you’re paying the registrar an annual fee to handle the registration paperwork plus any yearly renewals to keep the domain in your name.

The fee amount varies based on factors like:

The TLD – Popular TLDs like .com cost more than obscure extensions.
Domain age – Established domains are typically pricier.
Registrar promotions – Introductory discounts for first-time registrations or transfers.
Premium domains – Some very short generic domains command premium prices.

Expect to pay $15 per year on average to register a domain with most providers. There may be variations above and beyond based on these factors.

Some registrars also include extras like custom email, DNS, forwarding, privacy registration add-ons, or website builders that raise costs. We’ll summarize these shortly.

So in brief – a registrar handles legally securing your exclusive rights to use the domain name for your site for a yearly fee. Now let’s look at the top registrars to use for registering your custom domain.

The Best Domain Registrars

While there are hundreds of places to potentially register your domain, these providers consistently offer the best service, features, and value:

GoDaddy – The world’s largest domain registrar, well known for affordability. Also supplies hosting, email, security and more.
Namecheap – Reliable registrar that frequently runs promotions. Good add-ons available.
Bluehost – Top hosting provider that offers free domain names with hosting plans.
Google Domains – Allows linking Google services to your domain. Rated support.
Ionos – German provider focused on secure managed hosting solutions.
Cloudflare – Optimizes site speed and security. Integrates with many domain registrars.

You generally can’t go wrong registering your domain with any major brand registrar like the ones above. We’d recommend comparing a couple options’ features and costs to determine what works best for your site.

Now that you know where to buy a domain name, let’s summarize what’s typically included with a domain registration.

What’s Included with Domain Registration

When you register a domain name with a registrar, there are a few key features that generally come bundled by default:

1. Right to Use the Domain – You’re purchasing exclusive rights to use and point your domain name to an active website it resolves to. No one else can legally register that same domain name while your yearly rights are valid.

2. Domain Management Dashboard – Registrars provide an admin panel to manage DNS records, adjust name servers, set up forwarding, edit contacts and information, renew domains automatically, and more.

3. Basic Technical Support – Most domain registrars offer some degree of technical support via phone, chat, email, and knowledge bases if you need help setting up or directing your domain.

4. One Year Registration Term – Your paid domain registration reserves the rights to use that domain for a standard initial 1 year period. You can renew for additional years to maintain ownership. New registrations typically auto-renew by default.

5. Global WHOIS Listing – Details associated with your domain like contacts and servers get added to the global WHOIS domain name database for public lookup. This proves your ownership.

In addition to the above, some registrars bundle extras like custom email, private registration, web hosting, CDN, DNS management, SSL certificates, and advanced support. Expect costs to rise accordingly the more add-ons you select during checkout.

We’ll summarize the most relevant optional domain extras next.

Popular Domain Registration Add-Ons

While technically domains only require a lookup name and TLD extension, additional common options help connect your name to an active site. Typical domain extras buyers frequently bundle include:

Custom Email – Set up professional email addresses using your domain name, like support@yourdomain.com. Makes your site seem more legitimate to visitors who email you.
Private Registration – Domains list an admin’s contact info publicly in WHOIS by default. Private registration hides your personal details and protects against spam.
Domain Forwarding – Forwards visitors from your domain to a different existing site. Allows securing a domain name for the future before you build your site. Useful for parked domains.
Domain Privacy – Masks your contact information in the WHOIS record and DNS registration details. Prevent spam and remain pseudo-anonymous.
Domain Theft Protection – Advanced registry-level security that requires multifactor authentication to transfer domains away or make account changes. Prevents hijacking.
SSL Certificate – Adds HTTPS encryption to websites for secure data transmission. Provides the padlock and boosts SEO. Can enable on the domain level instead of installing separately for each site page.
Managed DNS – Lets registrars fully handle configuring name servers and DNS records instead of managing yourself. Simplifies setup process for non-techie domain owners.
Email Forwarding – Automatically forward emails from your custom domain’s inbox to an external email provider. Allows registering short email addresses with the domain without needing web hosting.
CDN – Content delivery network distributes data globally from edge servers to speed up site loading times. Can enable directly via registrar versus web host.
Web Hosting – Stores website files on remote servers for 24/7 uptime. Typically required for active sites tied to domains.

Some domain registrars include options like custom email, privacy protection, and forwarding automatically for free. While other registrars charge extra for add-ons or bundle them with higher-tier packages and subscriptions.

Shopping around for the features you specifically need can help you save money, so compare a few domain providers before purchasing your extensions.

Next let’s get into more tips for picking the perfect domain name for your brand and site.

How to Choose a Domain Name

Your domain name plays a pivotal role in your site’s brand identity. Follow these five tips when selecting your web address to give yourself the best chance of search visibility and engagement.

1. Keep it Short

Ideally your domain name should only have 1-3 words or around 10-15 characters total, not counting the extension.

Short, succinct domains like tumblr.com and facebook.com are easier to remember and stand a better chance of driving direct organic traffic. They also come across as more professional versus a long multi-word domain.

2. Incorporate Your Brand Name

Try to work your company name, product line, or slogan into your domain when feasible. This reinforces your brand identity online, helping establish credibility and trust with site visitors.

For example, nike.com, snapchat.com, burgerking.com all perfectly capture the brand names in the domain.

3. Use Easy to Spell Keywords

Incorporate terms site visitors are likely to be searching Google for related to your offerings – but only if the words are simple and easy to spell.

As visitors will hear your domain name mentioned and need to manually type it in, having spelling-challenged multi-syllable words will result in lower traffic and engagement.

4. Test Memorability

Say your prospective domain out loud to friends or colleagues to determine how easy it rolls off the tongue. If multiple people struggle to recall your site name accurately, you may want to tweak or simplify it for maximum memorability.

You can also try typing it from memory yourself a week after initial creation to double check.

Do a preliminary check that your desired domain name doesn’t already exist across social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

The goal is to secure name consistency both through your domain and social handles when feasible. This also eliminates user confusion down the line.

Sticking to shorter length, branding-focused domains with memorable keyword elements offers the best chance for building visibility. Let your domain name shine both online and off.

Now that you know how domains function plus where and how to register your own – let’s recap the key takeaways about domain names to remember.

Domain Name Key Takeaways

Here are the critical points you now know related to understanding and acquiring domains:

A domain name maps a website address to its numerical server IP identification for easy human access – think “pixelsproutdigital.com” instead of 104.154.89.105.
Domains connect visitors to your site by entering the name into any web browser – domains allow your customers to access your offerings online.
Choosing the right domain establishes trust and reinforces brand positioning – match domains to your business identity when feasible.
Check availability thoroughly with a domain registrar before assuming rights over any name combinations – millions of domains already exist, make sure yours is unique.
Short and memorable domains improve direct traffic – consider brevity and spelling when selecting domain names.
Register domains for 1+ years via accredited registrars to maintain exclusive access – expect an ~$15 annual investment to retain ownership.
Add services like email, hosting, CDN at registration to enable full website functionality – supplement domains with add-ons that power sites.

And that wraps up our complete beginner’s guide detailing everything you need to know about domain names!

You now understand what domains and domain names are composed of, why they are a key foundation for any successful online presence, where to register your domain plus extras, and tips to choose the perfect name for your brand.

Follow the advice in this article and claim your ideal domain ASAP to pave the way for establishing your credibility with site visitors. Your personalized domain awaits!

What is a Domain Name? The Beginner’s Guide