If you are a beginner, you must be wondering what is a domain name and what is it used for. you must have been hearing that a domain name is important when creating a website.
Many beginner confuse domain name with web hosting. you should be confused too if you are just starting out online or being your first time attempting to create a website…
It’s impossible to create a website without having a domain name and a hosting account to host your website.
What is a Domain Name And How Does it Work
A Domain name is the name of your website that people will type into their browser (chrome, Operamini, Firfox, Safari e.t.c) to locate your website. Your domain name is the address to your website
For example: If your website should be your house, then your domain name will be the address to your house
Your Domain name is the name users will use to visit your website on the internet. without a domain, no-one will be able to visit your website.
Before I explain more, it’s important to understand what an IP Address is.
Also Read: How to create a website
What is an IP Address
The Internet is a great network of computers connected to each other through a global network of cables. Each computer on this network can communicate with other computers.
To identify this computers, each computer is assigned an IP address that looks like this: 124.279.66.15
It is quite difficult to remember IP Addresses to locate each computer. Because you will have to remember each number of each website you want to visit on the internet. which is not possible for humans.
Domain names were invented to solve this problem. You don’t need to enter these numbers to visit a website. Instead, you type a name in your browser. Which is the website’s domain name.
It’s much easier to remember facebook.com, Realjossy.com, Google.com, Amazon.com instead of its IP Address.
All domain names are connected to a unique IP Address after you have registered it. No two websites can have the same Domain.
When you register your domain, you are registering with a DNS (Domain Name System).
A DNS is a database that connects IP addresses with their corresponding domain names.
When you go to your browser and type in a domain name, it will connect with the DNS. The DNS searches through all of the registered IP addresses and connects that domain with the IP address.
Also Read: Benefits Of Having A Website
What is a domain name used for
Your domain name is your unique identity on the Internet.
- A domain name is used to create a website.
- A domain name is used to create a business email address
Having your website and email addresses with the same name will give you and your business a more professional look.
Why is it important to Register a domain name
The Importance for a business to register a domain name is to protect its copyrights and trademarks, build creditability, increase brand awareness, and search engine positioning.
What is Free domain names
There is nothing like a free domain name. Its called a Sub-Domain. If I should use the word FREE, you will start thinking you can register domain names for free… No registration is free.
Subdomain Names are sometimes available from certain providers and are usually in the form of [yourname.realjossy.com].
A domain name in this format is known as a subdomain.
Although a subdomain is free and functional on the Internet, it has its limitations: Your professional image will not be as strong as having a custom domain.
It is not easy for your visitors to find your website, because they need to remember your website name as well as your host’s URL.
You will not be able to transfer a subdomain to another web hosting. so you will only end up promoting someone else’s domain.
Also Read: What is Web Hosting?
Types Of Domain Names
Domain names are available in many different extensions. The most popular one is .com. There are many other options like .org, .net, .tv, .info, .io, and more.
You can freely choose a name from any of these extensions to make a website. However, I always recommend using a .com domain extension.
What is Top Domain Name
.Com and .Net .Org are the two top domain extensions. If your preferred dot com domain extension is not available, then many domain name generator tools will suggest .net as the alternative.
It’s easier for users to remember a .com domain than any other domain extension, due to its popularity. Its also easier to brand, promote, and help you grow your business.
If you want to make any kind of business website, then you should always use a .com domain extension. It gives your website a familiar address and makes your business look more professional and established.
What is a Domain Name TLDs
Top level domain or TLD are generic domain extensions that are listed at the highest level in the domain system.
Top Level Domain – TLD
There are hundreds of TLDs, but the most popular ones are .com .org, and .net. Other TLDs are lesser-known and we don’t recommend using them. For example, .biz, .club, .info, .agency, and many more.
Country Code Top Level Domain – ccTLD
Country-code top-level domain or ccTLD are country-specific domain names which end with country code extension like .uk for the United Kingdom, .de for Germany, .in for India, .ng for Nigeria. They are used by websites that want to target audiences in a specific country.
Sponsored Top Level Domain – sTLD
Sponsored top-level domain or sTLD is a category of TLDs that has a sponsor representing a specific community served by the domain extension.
Also Read: 25 Ways to make money from your website (blog)
Frequently Asked Questions Related to a Domain Name
What is a subdomain?
A subdomain is basically a child domain under the main domain name. For example, store.realjossy.com is a subdomain of Realjossy.
Once you register a domain, you have the permission to create subdomains for it by yourself.
Subdomains are commonly used by websites to create child-sites under the same domain. For example, a business website can create a subdomain for their blog or their online store as store.example.com or blog.example.com
Can I cancel my registration of a domain name?
Some domain registrars allow you to cancel your domain registration at any time. If you cancel your registration, it will become available for others to register.
Other domain registrars allow you to simply let your domain registration expire.
In most cases, you will not get any refund for the domain registration. However, some domain registrars do have refund policies which you may want to discuss with them before cancelling your registration.
Can I move my website to a different domain name?
Yes, you can. You can point your Domain to your hosting server. You can also keep both domains pointing to the same website.
However, search engines consider it as duplicate content and that will affect your search rankings.
Can I sell a domain name?
Yes, you can sell your domain names. Domain names are like real estate for web. There is a huge demand for good brandable custom domain names.
Trading domain names is a multi-million dollar industry. Since domain names are so cheap, smart entrepreneurs are always looking for great domain ideas to get their hands own.
If you want to sell your domain, then there are many marketplace websites like Sedo, GoDaddy, and others where you can list your domain for sale.
Popular registrars like realjossy also let you buy premium domains right from their domain search feature.
What is domain privacy?
ICANN requires people registering domain names to provide an email, physical address, phone number, and other personal information to be made available publicly.
Domain Privacy is a separate add-on service sold by domain registrars. It allows you to show proxy information instead of your actual personal info.
You don’t need to buy domain privacy if you don’t want to. But if you are concerned about privacy, then you can buy this service for a small cost.
Also Read: How to create an auction website
How to Register a Domain Name
Its Easier to Register Domain Names with just one click on Realjossy. We have thousands of Domain Tlds to be registered
Go to Realjossy.com and go to Domain Names
Click on the Domain Names on the next page put in the name you choose to use for your domain and click search
Put in a name and click the search button and you will be given different TLDs to choose.
Make a choice and checkout.
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