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An Introduction To Domain Names

Domain names are used to translate numeric IP addresses into words for easier navigation on the internet. They are attached to DNS servers which perform this translation. Domain names are categorized by their top-level domain (TLD) extension like .com, .net, or .org, or they can be country-specific like .jp for Japan. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) approves new TLDs beyond country codes and regulates the domain name system globally. While alternative extensions like .xxx exist, ICANN-approved TLDs work best for broad accessibility on the internet.

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278 views

An Introduction To Domain Names

Domain names are used to translate numeric IP addresses into words for easier navigation on the internet. They are attached to DNS servers which perform this translation. Domain names are categorized by their top-level domain (TLD) extension like .com, .net, or .org, or they can be country-specific like .jp for Japan. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) approves new TLDs beyond country codes and regulates the domain name system globally. While alternative extensions like .xxx exist, ICANN-approved TLDs work best for broad accessibility on the internet.

Uploaded by

Zainab Javed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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An Introduction to Domain Names

A domain name is simply a "front" – they are word sequences users enter in their browser to visit a
website, but are not a website's true address. Domain names are attached to DNS (Domain Naming
System) servers, which are used to translate numeric addresses (known as IP, or Internet Protocol,
addresses) into words. Each site you visit on the Internet has a numeric IP address behind its name, which
represents the site's true address.

Domain names are typically categorized by their extension, which is their identifying code. The three
most popular types of Top Level Domains (TLDs), which are domains not associated with a country, are:

.COM: Short for .commercial. Domain names with the .com extension are the most popular, and can be
purchased by any individual or business.

.NET: Short for .network, this domain extension was originally designed to be used by technical Web
sites. However, domains using this extension can be registered by anyone.

ORG: Short for .organization. Originally designated for non-profit firms and any other organizations that
did not fit under the .com or .net extension, any individual or business may now register a .org domain
name.

Domain names can also be assigned using country extensions. Each country has its own domain
extension; Pakistan, for example, is .pk, while Japan has been assigned .jp. Most countries have specific
rules surrounding exactly who can register domains using their extension and for what purpose.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the organization responsible for
the administration of TLDs worldwide, has approved several new extensions that are not specific to any
country. These include:

.aero

.biz

.coop

.info

.museum

.name
.pro

Each has been designed for a specific use, and is accompanied by certain restrictions.

In searching for your domain name, you may encounter websites offering extensions like .xxx, .free
and .mp3. These are not true extensions endorsed by ICANN; rather, they rely on software solutions to
guarantee their accessibility to users. Because ICANN has not approved any of these extensions,
however, users that do not have the correct software cannot access sites using these names; therefore, they
should be used for supplemental purposes only.

From a functional perspective, country-level domains work just as well as any TLDs, and alternative
extensions work just as well. Therefore, don't necessarily settle for a mediocre TLD when you can get a
better one using a different extension using Navicosoft’s services.

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