Hey there! If you‘re new to the world of websites, you‘ve probably heard the term "domain name" thrown around a lot. But what exactly is a domain name, and how do they work behind the scenes?
Don‘t worry – by the end of this guide, you‘ll be a domain expert! We‘ll break down the basics of domains in simple terms and share tons of helpful tips. Let‘s get started.
Domain Names 101
In the simplest terms, a domain name is your website‘s address on the internet. It‘s what people type into their browser to find and visit your site.
For example, our domain name is wpbeginner.com. When you enter this into your browser, it will take you right to our homepage.
Every website has its own unique domain name. In fact, there are over 354.7 million registered domain names as of 2021 (Verisign). But how do all these domains work? Let‘s take a look under the hood.
How Domains & IP Addresses Work
To really understand domains, we first need to talk about IP addresses. An IP address is a unique string of numbers assigned to every device connected to the internet, like computers and servers.
A typical IP address looks something like this: 192.168.1.1
As you can imagine, it would be nearly impossible to remember the IP addresses of all your favorite websites. That‘s where domain names come in!
Domains essentially map to IP addresses, acting as a memorable and easy-to-type alias. When you enter a domain into your browser, here‘s what happens behind the scenes:
- Your browser sends a request to a global network of Domain Name System (DNS) servers
- The DNS servers look up the name servers associated with the domain
- Your browser sends a request to those name servers
- The name servers forward the request to the web server where the website is hosted
- The web server sends the website data back to your browser, and the page loads
All of this happens in milliseconds, allowing you to access websites instantly with just a domain name!
Anatomy of a Domain Name
All domain names have two main parts:
- Top-Level Domain (TLD): The part after the last dot, like
.com,.org,.netetc. - Second-Level Domain (SLD): The main part before the last dot, typically your unique website name
Some domains also utilize subdomains – the part before the SLD and separated by a dot. For example, in store.wpbeginner.com, store is a subdomain used for our online shop section.
Here are some of the most common TLDs and their market share as of 2023 (Domain Name Stat):
| TLD | Market Share |
|---|---|
| .com | 51.4% |
| .net | 3.5% |
| .org | 3.1% |
| .info | 1.3% |
| .biz | 0.9% |
There are also country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) for specific countries, like .us, .ca and .jp. In addition, there are now over 1500 niche TLDs for hobbies, interests and industries, like .photography, .restaurant, .online and even .pizza!
Choosing the Perfect Domain Name
With over 354 million domains already registered, finding the perfect domain name can seem challenging. But don‘t worry – here are some pro tips:
Aim for short and simple. The best domains are easy to remember, pronounce and spell. Avoid numbers, hyphens and strange characters.
Include keywords. Use words related to your niche, brand, location or offering. This helps with SEO and makes your domain more intuitive.
Prioritize .com. While other TLDs are becoming more common,
.comis still the gold standard. If your desired.comis taken, consider a different TLD or variation.Make it brandable. Your domain is central to your online brand. Consider made-up words that are unique and catchy, like Twitter or Google.
Use domain generators. Plug keywords into domain name generators for clever name ideas, variations and available domains.
Research the domain. Before registering, Google the domain to check for trademark conflicts or negative associations. Look up the domain in the WHOIS database to verify it‘s not already owned.
Act fast on a good domain. Millions of domains are registered per month, so if you find an ideal domain, snap it up before someone else does!
How Much Do Domain Names Cost?
Registering a standard domain typically costs $10-20 per year. However, many web hosting companies offer free domain registration when you buy a hosting plan.
The price may also vary based on the TLD, with newer niche TLDs often costing more or requiring a multi-year registration.
However, you can also purchase premium domains that are already registered from a marketplace or at auction. Premium domains are short, highly brandable dictionary words and can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to millions!
Some of the most expensive domain names ever sold include (DN Journal):
- Voice.com: $30 million in 2019
- 360.com: $17 million in 2015
- NFTs.com: $15 million in 2022
- Sex.com: $14 million in 2010
- Fund.com: $9.99 million in 2008
Registering a Domain Name
Once you‘ve chosen the perfect domain, you‘ll need to register it with a domain registrar to own and use it. The process is quick and easy:
Choose a registrar. We recommend Domain.com, Namecheap or Google Domains.
Search for your domain. Enter your desired domain name and TLD to check availability. If it‘s taken, the registrar will suggest alternatives.
Select your domain. Assuming it‘s available, add the domain to your cart. Consider registering the domain for multiple years to avoid losing it.
Complete your purchase. Create an account, enter your contact and billing details, and complete checkout. You now own the domain!
Update name servers. If you‘ve purchased web hosting separately, you‘ll need to point your domain to your hosting account by updating your domain‘s name servers. Your web host will provide these – it usually looks something like
ns1.hostname.comandns2.hostname.com.
Some other tips when registering:
Watch out for add-ons. Uncheck boxes for extras like SSL certificates, privacy protection, and email if you don‘t need them. You can usually add these later as needed.
Use WHOIS privacy. Your contact information is publicly available via WHOIS by default. Consider paying extra for WHOIS privacy to hide these details and prevent spam.
Enable auto-renew. Make sure the registrar has your up-to-date billing info and auto-renewal enabled so you don‘t accidentally let your domain expire. An expired domain is up for grabs and can be difficult and costly to recover.
Transferring a Domain Name
If you‘re unhappy with your current registrar, you can transfer your domain to another registrar. This is also necessary if you buy a domain from a third-party marketplace. Here‘s the general process:
Unlock your domain. Domains have a transfer lock by default. Log in to your current registrar and unlock the domain.
Request an authorization code. Your current registrar will email you an EPP code that authorizes the transfer. If you don‘t receive it, contact their support.
Initiate the transfer. Log in to your new registrar and enter the domain name you want to transfer along with the EPP code.
Approve the transfer. You‘ll receive emails from both registrars to approve the transfer request. Once approved, your domain will move to the new registrar within 5-7 days.
Keep in mind that ICANN, the global domain regulatory body, only allows domains to be transferred 60 days after the initial registration or a previous transfer. You also need at least 14 days remaining before your domain expires to request a transfer.
What About Subdomains?
As we touched on earlier, a subdomain is a separate section of your website that uses a prefix before your primary domain name, like blog.yourdomain.com or shop.yourdomain.com.
Some key things to note about subdomains:
You don‘t need to register subdomains. As long as you own the primary domain, you can create subdomains for free through your web hosting control panel.
Subdomains are considered separate websites. They have their own files and databases, and can even be hosted on separate servers. Search engines treat subdomains as distinct websites from the primary domain.
Subdomains are a great way to organize your site. You can use them to create dedicated sections for your blog, online store, support portal, affiliate program, and more.
To learn more, check out this in-depth guide to subdomains.
Domain Names vs. URLs
One common point of confusion is the difference between a domain name and a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). While related, they are distinct things:
A domain name is the core part of your website‘s address, like
wpbeginner.com. It‘s what you register and renew with a domain registrar.A URL is the complete website address used to access a specific page or resource, like
https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/. It includes the domain name plus other components like thehttps://protocol,wwwsubdomain,/file-path, and query strings.
So in summary, the domain name is one part of a complete URL.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before we wrap up, let‘s address some common questions about domain names:
Can I buy multiple domains for the same website?
Yes! You can buy and forward multiple domains to the same website. This is a smart strategy to capture common misspellings, secure your brand name on other TLDs, and drive more organic traffic with keyword-rich domains.
What if my ideal domain isn‘t available?
If your first-choice domain is already registered, you have a few options:
- Choose an alternative TLD, like
.net,.coor a niche TLD - Add small words or phrases, like "the", "my", "app" or "HQ"
- Consider a different domain name entirely
- Make an offer to buy the domain from the current owner
Do I need web hosting for my domain?
No. Domains and web hosting are two separate things. You need both to have an active website, but you can register a domain without hosting. Until you connect your domain to a web host via name servers, it won‘t load a website.
What happens if I don‘t renew my domain?
If your domain expires, it will stop working and your website and email will go offline. There is a grace period to renew, but your domain can also be auctioned off or registered by someone else. Always renew your domains on time or enable auto-renewal.
Conclusion
Phew, you made it to the end! We covered a lot, but I hope this guide has given you a comprehensive understanding of domain names and how they work.
Choosing and registering the right domain is one of the most important steps when launching a new website. Your domain is central to your online brand and identity, so it pays to put careful thought into getting the perfect one.
With the tips and best practices outlined in this guide, you‘re well on your way to domain name mastery. If you have any other questions, feel free to check out our Complete Guide to Domain Names for even more in-depth advice.
Here‘s to your new domain and online success!
