A website identify is what you kind into your browser handle bar to entry an internet site. It normally consists of the identify of the web site or enterprise and a website extension like .com or .internet.
Domains make the web as we all know it potential and are an necessary piece of your web site’s total branding. However it’s possible you’ll be asking your self:
- How do domains truly work?
- Why do they matter?
- How do I get one?
We’ll reply all of that (and extra) on this newbie’s information to web site domains.
What’s a website identify?
A website identify (or just “area”) is your web site’s handle on the internet. google.com, wikipedia.com, and wordpress.com are all domains.
A website can have many pages and URLs—corresponding to https://wordpress.com/weblog/—however the area identify itself is simply the identify plus its ending.
Apart from internet hosting, domains are the second-most necessary aspect to make an internet site accessible on-line.
However do you know that domains are solely placeholders? They’re stand-ins for IP addresses, which look one thing like this: 192.0.2.1.
IP addresses are like house addresses for gadgets on a community, serving to them discover and talk with one another. On the web, this normally means a server—a pc that shops and shares web sites so individuals can go to them.
In principle, you may as well entry an internet site if you understand its server’s IP handle, however these numbers are a lot more durable to recollect, and the IP handle can even change over time. That’s why we use domains—they’re a extra human-friendly technique to entry data throughout the web.
Domains work due to the Area Title System or DNS—a community of specialised servers that operate because the web’s cellphone listing.
So once you kind a website identify into your browser, right here’s what’s truly taking place:
- Your browser asks a DNS service to seek out the web site’s IP handle.
- The DNS service seems to be it up and sends the IP handle again.
- Your browser connects to that server and requests the web site recordsdata.
- The server sends the recordsdata, and your browser shows the web site.
All of that occurs mechanically within the background and makes the net a lot simpler to make use of and discover.
What are domains used for?
Whereas domains largely exist to permit guests to succeed in your website, additionally they fulfill different roles.
For one, a website identify provides you possession. With your personal area, you’ll be able to stake a declare in your a part of the World Large Internet and show no matter you need at that location.
A website identify can also be a part of your website’s and firm’s branding. It makes your web site extra recognizable and memorable. Your area is what individuals will know you by and what differentiates you from the competitors.
If the area aligns with your small business identify and goal, it gives consistency and reassures guests that they’re in the appropriate place after they’re on the lookout for details about you, your organization, or your merchandise.
Apart from that, a website identify usually describes what your web site is providing, what it’s about, and the place it’s positioned. For instance, in the event you see a website identify like gluten-free-gutenberg.com, you’ll be able to safely guess that its content material can have one thing to do with gluten free meals, cooking, or recipes. The web site learntocodewith.me is one other instance the place the area identify units clear expectations for the supposed viewers.
Lastly, having your personal area identify is a crucial signal of credibility. Prospects take a enterprise with its personal area extra critically than one utilizing a subdomain of one other service. This establishes belief and makes it extra possible that guests will use your website and do enterprise with you.
It’s just like the distinction between utilizing a Gmail handle as your company e-mail handle and one with your small business identify in it—one merely seems extra official.
Plus, after you have your personal area identify, you can use it in your e-mail handle and ship branded messages.
What’s the distinction between a website identify and a URL?
A URL or “Uniform Useful resource Locator” usually contains a website however can have many extra parts. Take a look at this instance:
https://wordpress.com/weblog/2025/01/29/how-to-make-a-website/#give-your-website-a-voice
Let’s break down every aspect, the area being solely a small a part of the complete URL:
Let’s break down every aspect, the area being solely a small a part of the complete URL:
- Protocol:
https:// - Area:
wordpress.com - Path:
/weblog/2025/01/29/how-to-make-a-website - HTML anchor:
#give-your-website-a-voice
URLs can include even extra parts, and you’ll learn Mozilla’s information to URLs for particulars.
What are the elements of a website identify?
So that you perceive elements of a URL, however how about elements of a website?
Domains include a number of parts, usually separated by intervals. They vary from common to extra particular identifiers.
Let’s talk about every half intimately:
Prime-level area
The highest-level area (TLD) is usually known as the area identify extension. Within the case of wordpress.com, the TLD is .com.
It’s one of the crucial necessary elements of a website’s area as a result of it may well inform lots a couple of web site. For instance, .com factors to industrial websites, and .org factors to websites belonging to a company.
Widespread area endings are known as “generic top-level domains” or gTLDs, however there are actually a whole lot to select from. Some are industry-specific, like .company, .pizza, .membership, .design, .weblog, or .enterprise. They even exist for manufacturers (e.g., .google), sorts of companies (e.g., .realestate), and geographic places (e.g., .nyc or .paris).
That stated, .com is by far the most well-liked gTLD:
There are additionally nation code top-level domains (ccTLDs), corresponding to .de for Germany, .mx for Mexico, or .se for Sweden. They signify which nation a enterprise or group serves or resides in. World manufacturers additionally use ccTLD for a country-specific net presence.
Combos of common and country-code top-level domains additionally exist, corresponding to .co.uk and .com.au. Some TLDs have necessities to be used, like requiring a particular language on the positioning.
Lastly, some top-level domains are reserved for establishments like US authorities businesses (.gov), faculties (.edu), or army organizations (.mil).
Tip: We provide over 350 top-level domains on WordPress.com! Discover your new area identify right here.
Second-level area
The phrase or phrase to the left of the TLD is named a second-level area (or SLD). The SLD normally comprises your model identify and is the primary level of affiliation potential guests have together with your model or weblog’s identify.
For instance, in case your area identify is open-sauce.retailer, guests will in all probability anticipate to have the ability to purchase sauces from a web-based or brick-and-mortar storefront.
Your SLD can have anyplace from one to sixty-three characters and may include solely the letters A by means of Z, digits 0 by means of 9, and the - character (which is probably not first or final).
Choosing a very good identify to your web site is a science in itself, which is why we’ve got a separate article on how to decide on a website identify you’ll be able to consult with for assist.
Third-level area
As you’ll be able to in all probability guess, you must go one step additional to the left to discover a third-level area. More often than not, if there’s one, it will likely be a subdomain, the most typical being www. You additionally often see third-level domains like developer.wordpress.com.
Tip: For those who join a free WordPress.com plan, your web site will likely be positioned on a website like instance.wordpress.com.
There are additionally third-level domains, corresponding to ftp or mail, that allow you to attain an FTP or e-mail server. Some web sites additionally use subdomains for various language variations of their website, like es.wikipedia.org.
All of that being stated: You don’t should have a 3rd stage to have a useful area.
You would theoretically proceed like this, and it is potential to create a Forty fifth-level area—however it’s very arduous to think about a use case for a website identify like that.
Who manages area identify registrations?
A number of organizations are in control of organizing how domains are used.
On the high are the Web Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and the Web Company for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). They’re non-profit organizations that create and implement area identify insurance policies.
Their job is to determine what area endings can be found and to keep up the technical infrastructure that makes the area system potential.
That stated, these organizations are usually not who you work together with once you wish to get a website identify for your self; you’d flip to a website registrar as an alternative.
The place are you able to get a website identify?
Area registrars are companies which have contracts with ICANN and IANA and are allowed to register domains on their behalf. In addition they deal with data and renewals, present buyer assist, and switch domains to different registrars.
There are numerous area registrars, and WordPress.com is considered one of them! You should utilize our companies to register your required area, even in the event you don’t host your web site with us.
Right here’s methods to discover your excellent area identify on WordPress.com:
- Begin through the use of our area finder device. Kind in your required area identify to verify its availability and value.
- If the identify you typed is already registered to another person, the device will make suggestions for various choices.
- When you select a website, merely add it to your purchasing cart and undergo the shopping for course of.
For those who join an annual internet hosting plan on WordPress.com, most domains are free for the primary yr.
No matter which WordPress.com internet hosting plan you select to associate with your area, you’ll love that every part—safety, backups, efficiency, and assist—is included for one value. There aren’t any hidden charges or customer limits; it’s simply WordPress internet hosting finished proper.
How a lot do domains value?
Most domains value lower than $30 per yr, and your area fee will renew annually until you cancel. Essentially the most generally used extensions—like .com, .internet, and .org—common simply $13 per yr on WordPress.com.
How will you hold your area identify safe?
Since a website identify carries quite a lot of enterprise worth, conserving it safe is an absolute precedence. Make sure you’re setting your self up for fulfillment as you select your new area by:
- Deciding on a good registrar, corresponding to WordPress.com.
- Preserving your contact data and private particulars for the registered area as personal as potential. At WordPress.com, your area comes with free privateness safety.
- By no means sharing your area registration login data.
- Watching out for phishing emails requesting login credentials. Most area registrars by no means ask for this data.
- Enabling two-factor authentication, guaranteeing {that a} code is shipped to you by way of cellphone or e-mail for added login safety.
One ultimate factor to recollect is that in case your area fee doesn’t renew, your entry to it would expire.
You’ll be able to’t personal a website perpetually (however you can purchase one for the following 100 years). While you buy a website, you purchase the unique utilization rights to make use of it for a sure time period. Extending your registration is feasible so long as you need, however in the event you ever let it expire, your area will return in the marketplace.
To forestall that from taking place by chance:
- Set your area to renew mechanically.
- Guarantee your fee data is updated.
- Hold your present e-mail handle on file so that you don’t miss e-mail notices out of your area registrar about expiring domains.
For those who by chance let your area expire, registrars are obliged to supply a grace interval of at the least 30 days to let you get better it earlier than it’s supplied on the market to a brand new proprietor.
Closing ideas on domains
A website is a core a part of proudly owning an internet site. It represents your website and enterprise and provides you a slice of the web the place others can discover and work together with you.
For that purpose, take your time to determine in your area identify. As soon as you might be prepared to assert it, be sure to go along with a website registrar you belief. We’d be glad that can assist you register your area identify at present.
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