A domain name consists of several parts, which together form a hierarchical structure. The main components of a domain name include:
- Top-Level Domain (TLD):
- This is the last part of the domain name, appearing after the final dot. Examples include
.com,.org,.net,.edu, and country code TLDs like.uk,.jp, etc.
- This is the last part of the domain name, appearing after the final dot. Examples include
- Second-Level Domain (SLD):
- This is the part of the domain name directly to the left of the TLD. For example, in
example.com,exampleis the SLD. It is often the most recognizable and brand-specific part of the domain name.
- This is the part of the domain name directly to the left of the TLD. For example, in
- Subdomain:
- This is a prefix to the SLD and can be used to organize or navigate different sections of a website. For example, in
blog.example.com,blogis a subdomain. Subdomains can be used to point to different servers or services within the same domain.
- This is a prefix to the SLD and can be used to organize or navigate different sections of a website. For example, in
- Host Name:
- Sometimes, the host name and subdomain can be considered the same, but technically, the host name can refer to the actual name of a specific server in a network. In
www.example.com,wwwis traditionally the host name.
- Sometimes, the host name and subdomain can be considered the same, but technically, the host name can refer to the actual name of a specific server in a network. In
- Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN):
- This is the complete domain name for a specific computer or host on the internet. It includes the host name, subdomain, SLD, and TLD. For instance,
www.blog.example.comis an FQDN.
- This is the complete domain name for a specific computer or host on the internet. It includes the host name, subdomain, SLD, and TLD. For instance,
Here is a breakdown of a sample domain name: www.sub.example.com
- TLD:
.com - SLD:
example - Subdomain:
sub - Host Name:
www - FQDN:
www.sub.example.com
Understanding these components is crucial for managing domain names effectively and for setting up various web services correctly.
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