What is a Domain?

A domain is the human-readable name that represents an Internet address, making it easier to access websites and online services.

Domains fall into two main categories:

Country Code Domains (ccTLDs):

Two-letter extensions that identify a specific country or territory, such as .us for the United States or .uk for the United Kingdom.

Generic Domains (gTLDs):

Describe the type of organization or purpose rather than location, such as:

• .com – Commercial businesses
• .org – Nonprofit organizations
• .net – Network providers
• .edu – Educational institutions
• .gov – Government agencies
• .mil – U.S. military
• .int – International entities

How DNS Works

The Domain Name System (DNS) acts as the Internet’s address book. It translates easy-to-remember domain names into numeric IP addresses that computers use to locate each other.

When you enter a web address, DNS resolves it into the correct IP so your browser can reach the right server.

Hostnames and IP Addresses

A hostname is the specific label of a computer or service within a domain (e.g., www.example.com).

An IP address is the unique numerical identifier assigned to each device connected to the Internet.

Types of DNS Services

Resolving DNS: Allows your device to find websites and mail servers across the Internet.

Authoritative DNS: Publishes DNS records so others can locate your domain and services.

Primary DNS: Stores the main record entries for a domain.

Secondary DNS: Retrieves backup copies of DNS records from the primary server.

Domain Registration

A domain name registrar is the company responsible for registering and managing your domain name. The registrar records administrative and technical contact information and submits your details to the central Internet registry. To view a list of certified registrars, visit www.internic.net