Domain name
Also called: domain, internet domain or web address
A domain name is the address of a Web site on the Internet. The domain name was created to provide a recognizable and easy-to-remember alternative to the numeric IP addresses of any computer or server connected to the Internet.
Domain names consist of a freely selectable section and an extension. Examples of domain extensions are .nl, .com, .net and .eu. The official designation for these domain extensions is top-level domain. The available top-level domains can be divided into generic extensions and national extensions.
Each extension has its own register(registry) that is managed centrally. Companies(registrars) are affiliated with this registry where you can register a domain name, provided it is still free of course.
Cost of a domain name
For domain registration, the domain owner pays an annual fee to the registrar. Often these companies also offer hosting. Only domains that are still free can be registered. Because the number of interesting domain names is not infinite, existing domains can sometimes be taken over for a fee to the current owner.
Findability of domain names
Because you generally choose a domain name only once, it is advisable to think carefully about the name you want to use. Companyname.co.uk or productname.co.uk, for example, are very obvious and practical in communication. Incorporating a potential keyword in a domain name can also have a positive influence on the findability of a website.
Domain names and IP addresses are technically linked together through through the domain name system(DNS). Using the DNS system, domain name holders can define their own subdomains within their domains.
