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What
is a domain name?
A domain name is a Web address, such as coolexample.com, that is linked to an IP
address (which represents a physical point on the Internet). The Internet
Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the governing body that
coordinates links between IP addresses and domain names across the Internet, so
you can find Web sites by entering domain names instead of IP addresses into
your Web browser.
For example, think of an IP address as an address for a house or business, such
as the White House. The address, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is comparable to an IP
address, and the name you know it as, the White House, is comparable to a domain
name. A domain name consists of a top-level and a second-level domain. A
top-level domain (TLD), or domain extension, is the part of the domain name
located to the right of the dot (coolexample.com). The most common domain
extensions are .COM, .NET, and .ORG. Some other popular domain extensions are
.BIZ, .INFO, .NAME, and .WS. These common extensions have certain guidelines,
but are usually available to any registrant, anywhere in the world.
There are also restricted top-level domains (rTLDs), like .AERO, .BIZ, .EDU,
.MIL, .MUSEUM, .NAME, and .PRO that require registrants to represent a certain
type of entity or to belong to a certain community. For example, the .NAME
domain extension is reserved for individuals, while .EDU is reserved for
educational entities. Country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) are for Web sites and
registrants of a particular geographic location, such as .BZ (Belize), .CA
(Canada), .DK (Denmark), .EC (Ecuador), .IE (Republic of Ireland), .UK (United
Kingdom), .US (United States), and .ZW (Zimbabwe).
The part of the domain name located to the left of the dot (coolexample.com) is
called the second-level domain (SLD) name. The second-level domain name is the
"readable" part of the address and refers to the organization or entity behind
the Internet address. Second-level domain names must be unique on the Internet
and registered with an ICANN-accredited registrar. As an ICANN-accredited
registrar, you can
register domain names through us.
How do domain names
work?
Domain register! Registering a domain doesn't
automatically make your Web site appear when visitors enter your domain into a
Web browser. You have to upload your Web site to a computer that hosts the site
and assigns a numeric address, called an IP address, to your domain. Your domain
and associated IP address are stored in a database with every other domain and
associated IP address. When visitors enter your domain into a Web browser, your
domain works like an address forwarding service by forwarding visitors to the IP
address where your Web site is stored. We use domain names instead of IP
addresses because most people find it easier to remember a name rather than a
series of numbers.
When you register a domain name, you do not have to create and upload a Web
site. You can also:
Sell it. Domains can be a great investment. If you have registered a domain that
you are not using, maybe someone else can. Log in to your Account Manager and
set up a For Sale parked page for your domain. Don't forget to include your
contact information.
Protect your brand online. The more domains you register, the better. Prevent
others from registering a similar domain to yours just to steal away your
customers. What to do with all these names? Forward them to your main domain.
Hold on to it. Maybe you haven't decided what to do with your new domain. Don't
worry there's no rush. You can leave it parked with us for the length of your
registration.
For new .COM and .NET domains and updates, it may take up to eight hours for
changes to become effective. It may take up to 48 hours for changes made to all
other domain extensions to become effective. This is because of the number of
networks and agencies involved. Delays apply to all domains and registrars.
Please allow for this delay when planning Web sites or configuring a domain to
work with your email.
What do I do if I have a trademark dispute?
Unfortunately, we cannot make any changes to the registrant fields without a
legal change of ownership, a court order, or an order by the World Intellectual
Property Organization (WIPO).
If you feel that you are the rightful owner of the domain, please contact the
domain registrant. If you are unable to find a satisfactory solution with the
current registrant, you need to settle the issue with a court order. We do not
get involved in domain disputes.
Discrepancies with trademark or rightful ownership are handled by the World
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Their email address is
domain.disputes@wipo.int. If a domain name is under a dispute, we lock the
domain name once the WIPO notifies us. It cannot be modified or transferred to
another registrar. Once we receive a court or WIPO ruling, we update the domain
accordingly.
Domain Register.
Why do you need to register a domain name?
If your domain is available, you can register it for a
period of time that you specify during the checkout process.
You can use your domain to build your business and assist
you in creating a dynamic online identity. You may also want
to consider registering multiple
cheap domain names to:
Keep
your competition from registering a domain name that draws
customers to them instead of you.
Promote the different
products and services you offer.
Drive more traffic to
your Web site.
Enjoy more opportunities to market to, and
be listed on, search engines.
Create distinct advertising
strategies that reach different target markets.
Provide
customers more ways to find you when searching the Internet.
Capture common misspellings of your domain name, instead of
sending visitors to an error page.
Protect your brand and
online identity from those who may have unsavory purposes.
To get started, you need to check if the domain name you
want is available.
To Check a Domain's Availability
| 1 |
Go to our Home Page. |
| 2 |
In the Domain Name Search field, enter the
domain you want to register, and then select the
domain extension from the list. |
| 3 |
Click Go. |
If the domain you requested is taken, we present
you with available alternatives. For example, you may be
able to select a .INFO or .WS domain extension, rather than
a .COM. For example, you could register www.coolexample.info,
instead of www.coolexample.com.
If the domain is
available, follow the instructions to complete the checkout
process. As you complete your
cheap domain registration,
include valid contact information for each contact. ICANN,
the governing body for domain names, requires valid
information for your contact information (Registrant,
Technical, Billing, and Administrative). If you enter false
information, your domain is cancelled.
Your contact
information is public and accessible through the Whois
databases of most registrars. However, you can protect your
privacy by registering your domain with us using our private
domain name registration services.
When you purchase our
private domain registration services, the Whois directory
lists Domains By Proxy's name, postal address, and phone
number instead of yours. Although Domains By Proxy is the
registrant of your domain name registration, you still
retain the full benefits of domain registration. You can:
| 1 |
Cancel, sell, or transfer your
domain registration. |
| 2 |
Revert the registrant listing
for your domain registration back to you. |
| 3 |
Renew your domain registration
when it expires. |
| 4 |
Designate the nameservers for
your domain. |
| 5 |
Resolve claims arising out of a
dispute involving your domain registration. |
A Whois listing contains information associated with a domain name, such as its
creation and expiration dates, the registrar of record, and various contacts
(administrative, technical, etc.). Whois data is collected when a domain name is
registered and is public information. The Whois information appears whenever a
person conducts a Whois search on a particular domain name.
For information on how to keep your contact information private, see
Adding Privacy to Your Domains,
private domain registration.
Need more information about domain names?
please visit our
FAQ area or our
customer support
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