What Is A Domain Name And How Does It Work?

Anytime you want to visit a website, you simply type the domain name in your web browser. For example, typing BigValley.Media will take you directly to our website. For all you care, you just type a domain name and visit the intended website, but a lot goes on behind the scenes to ensure that is possible. This article will explain how domain names work and help you understand the internet better.

How Domain Names Let You Surf the Internet

The Internet is an extensive network of billions of computers connected to each other through cables; each computer on this network can exchange information with others. Whenever a computer is connected to the internet, it has become online. Computers that stay permanently online to exchange information are called servers.

A unique Internet Protocol (IP) address identifies every computer or server connected online. A server hosts the website you want to visit and to get to the website, you need to know the server’s specific IP address. But IP addresses include four numbers separated by periods, e.g., 123.89.46.72, making it difficult to remember for different websites. Domain names were invented to solve this issue.

Source: Sunny Valley Networks

Domain names are human-readable names that point to specific IP addresses. They are easy to remember and act as proxies for the IP addresses you would otherwise have to cram. When you type a domain name into your web browser, it fetches the corresponding IP address from a vast database known as the Domain Name System (DNS); it then displays the content from the server with that IP address for you.

The Domain Name System (DNS) works like a phonebook you keep at home containing your friends’ names and phone numbers. You likely haven’t memorized all your friends’ numbers, but you know their names. Anytime you need a particular number, you consult the phonebook to trace their name and fetch it.

When you type any domain name, your browser queries the DNS database to find the IP address tied to that specific domain. After finding it, it fetches the content from the server identified by that IP address and displays it to you. It’s not magic, but simple technology.

Who Oversees the Domain Name System (DNS)

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) manages the domain name system. It is a non-profit organization created by the U.S. government but has morphed into an international organization independent of any country. A subsidiary agency, Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), manages the IP address system.

Whenever you buy a domain name, you technically don’t own it. Instead, you lease it from ICANN through your domain registrar. You maintain the lease as long you renew your registration.

ICANN decides what domain names people can register. The maximum period it leases a domain name is ten years, but you can perpetually renew this lease.

Parts Of a Domain Name

There are three main parts:

1. Top-Level Domain (TLD)

2. Second-Level Domain (SLD)

3. Subdomain

For example, in www.BigValley.Media, “.media” is the top-level domain, “BigValley” is the second-level domain, and “www” is the subdomain.

Parts of a domain name example

Top-Level Domain

This is the text at the end of every domain name, the part that follows the last dot (.) symbol. The most popular TLDs include

• .com

• .net

• .org

• .net.

• .edu

There are over 1,500 TLDs in total. A significant number are assigned to specific countries that earn money from licensing fees, such as

• .ca for Canada

• .ae for the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

• .br for Brazil

• .co for Colombia

• .fr for France

Others are random such as .media, .box, .catering, .ceo, etc.

Second-Level Domain (SLD)

This is the middle part of the domain that comes right before the TLD. It is where you place your brand, e.g., the “Big Valley” in BigValley.media.

Subdomain

A subdomain is an additional part attached to the main domain name. They are used to identify different sections of a website, e.g., blog.example.com. The most common subdomain you'll encounter is WWW, an abbreviation for World Wide Web.

How To Buy A Domain Name

You can buy a domain name from any registrar licensed by ICANN to sell them. Popular registrars include Google Domains, Domain.com, NameCheap, Dynadot, GoDaddy, etc.

Head to any registrar and use the search bar to check if the domain name you want has yet to be registered by someone else. If the domain name is available, you can immediately pay for it and assume ownership.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Domain Name System?

It is a vast database for translating human-readable domain names into machine-readable IP addresses. It is the global addressing system of the internet.

Which Organization Governs Domain Names?

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the organization responsible for governing domain names.

How Do I Know If My Domain Registrar Is Accredited?

ICANN maintains a list of all accredited registrars accessible at this link; https://www.icann.org/en/accredited-registrars. Any registrar you see there is accredited, and anyone you can’t find there is not legit.

Can I Transfer A Domain From One Registrar to Another?

Yes, you can transfer a domain name from one ICANN-accredited registrar to another. Registrars often charge a transfer fee, and note that a domain must be at least 60 days old to be transferrable.