Domain Names Explained

What’s in a domain name?  A domain name is a system used to identify autonomy and control on the Internet.  It is used with in the framework of the network.  The domain name is used for specific applications concerning names and addresses on the web.  A domain name is broken down into sublevels other wise known as a subdomain.

Furthermore, the top level of the domain name ends in a dot com, dot net, or dot org.  The second and third levels are domain names which people can obtain for use on their web site.  At this level, the domain name allows the connection between the local network and the Internet.  People can run their web sites and gain public accessibility to Internet resources through their domain name. 

Moreover, domain name registers control the sales of these services to the public.  A domain name known as a host name identifies the individual Internet being used.  This can be found in the Uniform Resource Locators or URL. An example of this would be en.wikipedia.org. 

Domain names simplify the addressing system of the Internet which uses numbers to locate information and show possession of information. People can remember the domain name easier than they can remember a string of numbers.  The domain name system also allows the website to be moved to a different physical location with in the address system of the network.  This move can be made with in the local network or on the worldwide web.  In order to make the move, a domain name must change its IP address.

The price of a domain name may be free or you may have to pay for your domain name.  It depends on what domain name register you decide to be part of.  The time length for owning a domain name can be as short as a year or as long as forever. All in all, a domain name is your important identity on the Internet.

Learn more about Web hosting terms at the Web hosting glossary.