Website Basics

What Is a Domain Name? How Domains Work

Published Şubat 3, 2025

A domain name is your website's address on the internet — what people type into their browser to find you. Understanding how domains work helps you make better decisions when building or managing a website.

Quick answer: A domain name is a human-readable address (like websiteguide.net) that maps to an IP address via DNS. You register domains through a registrar for a yearly fee, and they must be renewed to remain yours.

Anatomy of a Domain Name

A domain name has several parts, read from right to left:

  • Top-Level Domain (TLD) — The extension at the end: .com, .net, .org, .co.uk
  • Second-Level Domain (SLD) — The name you chose: websiteguide
  • Subdomain — Optional prefix: www, blog, shop

So in www.websiteguide.net: www is the subdomain, websiteguide is the SLD and .net is the TLD.

Types of TLDs

  • Generic TLDs (gTLDs) — .com, .net, .org, .info — available to anyone globally
  • Country Code TLDs (ccTLDs) — .co.uk, .de, .fr — associated with specific countries
  • New gTLDs — .shop, .blog, .tech, .agency — hundreds of newer options
  • Sponsored TLDs — .edu, .gov, .mil — restricted to specific organisations

How Domain Registration Works

  1. You search for a domain at a registrar (Namecheap, GoDaddy, Google Domains, etc.).
  2. If the domain is available, you register it by paying an annual fee.
  3. The registrar records your ownership in the WHOIS database.
  4. You can now manage DNS records, point it to hosting and use it for email.
  5. You must renew before it expires to keep ownership.

Domain vs Hosting — What's the Difference?

A domain name and web hosting are two separate things that are often confused:

  • Domain — The address (like a street address)
  • Hosting — Where the website actually lives (like the building)

You can buy them from the same provider or different providers. You connect them by pointing the domain's DNS records to the hosting server.

Tips for Choosing a Domain Name

  • Keep it short and easy to spell — avoid hyphens and numbers
  • Use .com if available — it's the most universally recognised
  • Make it memorable and relevant to your brand or content
  • Avoid trademarked names
  • Buy common variants to protect your brand (e.g. .net version of your .com)

How Much Does a Domain Cost?

Most .com domains cost £8–15/year. Premium domains (short, popular keywords) can cost thousands. ccTLDs and new gTLDs vary in price. Watch out for registrars that offer a very cheap first year but charge significantly more on renewal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Domain transfers are straightforward — you unlock the domain at your current registrar, get an authorisation code (EPP code) and initiate the transfer at the new registrar. Transfers typically take 5–7 days and add one year to your registration. You cannot transfer within the first 60 days of registration.

Your website and email stop working immediately. Most registrars offer a grace period (30 days) where you can renew at the standard price. After that, there's a redemption period with a higher recovery fee. If you don't renew, the domain eventually becomes available for anyone to register.

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