Domains were invented to make it easier to find sites on the World Wide Web. In the past, you had to keep in mind the IP address, a sequence of 4 numbers that are separated by dots. This address indicates the server where the resource is located. You can keep a few of these numbers in your memory, but when the number of such addresses reaches dozens, confusion will set in. An analogy can be made. Few people memorize phone numbers, they just add them to the phone memory and give them a name.
What is the difference between hosting and domain
Hosting is the physical location of a website. The site can be placed on your home computer, but quality and reliable hosting requires more in-depth knowledge related to the administration of the site. Therefore, the best solution is to purchase hosting from a hosting company.
A domain is a website address that visitors type in when accessing a website. Domain is required in order to distinguish between sites. Even if a person will not enter the address of your project into a browser, but will get to the site from a search engine, search engines also need to somehow distinguish between sites.
Types of domain names
The first level of a domain. Another name is top level. A 1st level domain is the component of a name that is to the left of the last dot. Registering a domain, you can not come up with your own first-level domain. You can only choose from those offered by registrars.
Second. Another name is primary or mother domain. The 2nd level domain is the component of the name that is to the left of the last dot. Google is the second-level domain in the name google.com. In some states, registrars use second-level domains as an alternative to top-level domains. For example, .ac.uk and .co.uk.
Third. Or differently – subdomain or subdomain. Level 3 domain is a part of the name, which is located to the left of the penultimate point. Subdomains are needed when you need to assign a unique address to different categories on the site. For example, there is the domain google.co.uk, where the 3rd level domain is google.
What domains are available
Generic domains designate a certain field of activity. For example, .com for commercial organizations, .org for non-profit organizations, and .edu for educational organizations. Gradually, .com domains have become so popular that not only commercial enterprises have started using them. There is no prohibition to register .com domains even if one is not associated with commerce. Generic domains are characterized by easy registration. Anyone can register them and no documents are needed to do so. Now there are already more than a thousand top-level domains.
National domains are first-level domains that are intended for certain countries. As a rule, the basis for national first-level domains are two-letter country codes. Therefore, all national domains of the 1st level consist of 2 letters. Registration of a national domain is usually more complicated than a generic one. Some countries give permission to register their national domains exclusively to their citizens or official residents. And then, registering a domain, you need to specify a physical address, passport data or driver’s license data.
Why domain names are needed
For the site. Without a domain, visitors will need to remember the IP address to get to the resource. Therefore, you need to choose a domain that will be memorized, so that people can type it from memory, even without bookmarking it.
For parking. Parking a domain is when a page with the text “the site is still under development” or something like that is placed on the domain. Such pages are called parking pages. When the site is finished, the domain still needs to be registered. It is better to do it earlier, so that it is not occupied by others.
For mail. On the domain you can set up e-mail. To do this, you need to purchase hosting and set up a mail account.
For redirection. Even if you are not going to make a site, you can buy a domain and set up redirection to your page in contact, classmates or Instagram. After that, everyone who enters the domain name in the web browser will be on your page.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
A domain name is the human-readable address that corresponds to a website’s IP address, while a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the complete web address that specifies the protocol (e.g., HTTP or HTTPS) and the specific page or resource on a website.
While it’s technically possible to change a domain name, it’s not recommended due to the potential impact on branding, SEO, and user recognition. It’s usually easier to register a new domain and redirect traffic from the old domain to the new one.
Domain registration typically takes a few minutes to complete, although it may vary depending on the domain registrar and any additional services or verification processes required.
Yes, domain names must be renewed periodically to maintain ownership and prevent expiration. Most domains require renewal on an annual basis, although some registrars offer multi-year registration options.
Yes, it’s possible to purchase a domain that is already registered, either through a private negotiation with the current owner or by participating in a domain auction. However, acquiring a registered domain may be more expensive than registering a new one.
