This is one of those areas we get asked a lot about at work.  Mostly because the only people that understand fully what’s going on are the techies, let’s face it.  Luckily for us, we have some of those so we thought it would be helpful to cover it in an article.  What are these domain names of which you speak?  Why do I need one?  How do I get one, and so on.

What Is a Domain Name?

A domain name is a unique identifier that is used to locate and access a website on the internet. It is a string of characters that forms a web address and is used to help users navigate the internet and find the websites they are looking for.

A domain name is composed of two parts: the top-level domain (TLD) and the second-level domain (SLD). The TLD is the last part of the domain name, such as .com, .org, .net, .edu, or .gov. The SLD is the part that comes before the TLD and is usually the name of the website or business.

For example, in the domain name “example.com,” “com” is the TLD, and “example” is the SLD. The SLD can also include subdomains, which are additional segments added to the beginning of the domain name, such as “blog.example.com” or “shop.example.com.”

Domain names are registered through a domain registrar, and each domain name must be unique. Once a domain name is registered, it can be used to host a website, create custom email addresses, and more.

OK Great, How Do I Get A Domain Name?

You can buy a domain name from a domain registrar, which is a company that specializes in registering and managing domain names. There are many domain registrars to choose from, and some of the most popular ones include:

1. GoDaddy
2. 123-Reg
3. Google Domains
4. 1&1 Ionos

 

To buy a domain name, you will need to search for available domain names and choose one that fits your needs. Most domain registrars have a search tool on their website that allows you to search for available domain names and check the availability of different TLDs.

Once you have found an available domain name, you will need to register it with the domain registrar. This typically involves creating an account, providing your contact information, and paying for the domain registration fee.

After you have registered your domain name, you will have full control over it and can use it to host a website, create custom email addresses, and more. It’s important to remember to renew your domain registration periodically, usually on an annual basis, to maintain ownership of your domain name.

That Sounds Complicated, Can You Do This For Me?

It’s really simple, honest. imagine it just like any purchase you make online.  We can guide you through it if you are confused about which one to buy, but it is much better for you to own your own domain name, than for us own it on your behalf.

What Is A Domain Name Server?

A Domain Name Server (DNS) is a computer server that is responsible for translating domain names into IP addresses. When you enter a website address into your web browser, your computer sends a request to a DNS server to resolve the domain name into an IP address. The DNS server then returns the IP address to your computer, allowing your browser to connect to the web server associated with the domain name and display the requested website.

DNS servers work together in a hierarchical system to provide efficient and reliable domain name resolution. The top-level DNS servers, known as root servers, maintain a database of all the TLDs and their corresponding authoritative DNS servers. The authoritative DNS servers are responsible for maintaining the DNS records for specific domain names.

When a user requests a domain name, their local DNS server first checks its cache to see if it has the IP address for that domain name. If the cache doesn’t contain the information, the local DNS server forwards the request to one of the root DNS servers. The root server then directs the request to the appropriate authoritative DNS server, which returns the IP address to the local DNS server. The local DNS server then caches the IP address and returns it to the user’s computer, which uses the IP address to connect to the web server associated with the domain name.

Overall, DNS servers are an essential component of the internet that allow users to access websites using human-readable domain names. They help ensure efficient and reliable domain name resolution by maintaining a hierarchical system of servers and caching frequently requested domain names to speed up the resolution process.

OK That Was Too Much For Me – What Do I Really Need To Know?

That’s fair enough, when we’re putting your website live, we will need access to this to make it all work.  We can do that through the control panel of your domain name.

What Is An IP Adrress?

An IP address (short for Internet Protocol address) is a unique numerical identifier that is assigned to every device connected to the internet. It allows devices to communicate with each other over the internet by specifying the source and destination of data packets.

IP addresses are typically represented as a string of numbers separated by periods, such as 192.0.2.1. They are divided into two main types: IPv4 and IPv6. IPv4 addresses are the most common and consist of 32 bits, allowing for a maximum of approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses. IPv6 addresses, on the other hand, consist of 128 bits, allowing for a virtually unlimited number of unique addresses.

Every website, web server, and other internet-connected devices have an IP address. When you enter a website address into your web browser, your computer uses DNS to look up the IP address associated with that domain name, allowing your computer to connect to the web server associated with that IP address and display the requested website.

 

We hope you found that useful.  If you’re still in the dark, don’t worry, your website agency will have it covered for you.  If you don’t have one of those yet, let’s have a 20 minute chemistry call to see if we can help.