Domain Names Explained

Domain Name Registration

We hope to have these Domain Names Explained. Appalachia Domains is renowned for its exceptional value in domain name registration. As a premier website infrastructure provider, it offers low-cost domain registration services.

The domain registration process at Appalachia Domains is user-friendly and seamlessly integrates with premium services. Newly registered domains are automatically added to the Appalachia Domains DNS systems, with features like CDN activation just a few clicks away.

Appalachia Domains boasts a robust product lineup with competitive pricing, particularly noted for its affordable domain registration fees.

What is a Domain Name

A domain name appears in the website URL after the protocol sign (HTTPS://) and before the first slash. For example, in the URL https://appalachiadomains.com, “appalachiadomains.com” is the domain name. It acts as a human-readable substitute for a computer or website’s IP address, which identifies each internet-connected device. The domain name system was created to replace the complex IP Address—a string of digits—with something simpler to remember, enabling website owners to register unique names linked to their IP addresses.

Every internet-using device is assigned an IP address, a unique identifier that cannot be simultaneously used by another device.

To create a basic virtual address book, computer scientists developed the Internet Protocol Address System. They gave each computer and website a unique 32-bit or 128-bit numerical IP Address to identify them distinctly.

Although this system was functional, it proved too complex for effective communication, even among computer scientists, let alone those less versed in computers. Consequently, the domain name system was established, allowing website owners to register a distinctive name that serves as a stand-in for the IP address.

The Domain Name System (DNS) operates by translating domain names into IP address character sets through a DNS server. This system is distributed across millions of servers worldwide yet functions as a single, cohesive database.

When you enter a domain name into your web browser, it communicates with a name server to retrieve the corresponding IP address.

If a domain extension is not specified, the request is processed by a server following the DNS hierarchy, starting from the top-level domains and proceeding down the line. This system has significantly simplified web navigation and has encouraged more people to use the internet.

Domain Names Serve Three Main Purposes

1. – Establish a lasting first impression: A domain name is the initial point of contact a potential customer has with your site, and thus with your brand. A distinctive and memorable domain name can resonate with what they are seeking and remain in their memory. Conversely, an inappropriate domain name may deter potential customers.
2. – Define your brand: A domain name can immediately convey your brand identity, informing customers about who you are and what you offer. A relevant domain name can clue customers into your product, while a unique domain name can forge an association between your name and your product.
3. – Enhance SEO: Search engine optimization leverages keywords to improve SEO rankings. While exact match domains are not essential, having a domain closely related to your content is beneficial.

The Most Commonly Used Top-Level Domains (TLDs) Include

• .com (for commercial sites)
• .org (for organizations)
• .net (originally for network-related websites, now used by various businesses)
• .info (for information platforms)
• .biz (for businesses)
• .co (for companies and businesses)
• .store (for eCommerce businesses)
• .shop (for online shopping stores)

ccTLD: Country-Code Top-Level Domain

Country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) are specific domain extensions for particular countries. They typically consist of two letters based on international country codes.

For example, websites from India may use .in as their domain extension, while .us is commonly registered for US-based websites.

Here are some other examples of ccTLDs that you can register with Appalachia Domains:

• .be – Brazil
• .ca – Canada
• .de – Germany
• .ie – Ireland

A ccTLD is suitable for companies, organizations, or entities operating in a specific country. Global companies can also use ccTLDs to differentiate localized content across different regions. For example, the BBC uses bbc.co.uk for their UK domain and bbc.com for the international audience.

Top Twenty gTLD’s

1. Generic; (.com, .net, .org, .info), domains that can be used for general purposes.
2. Generic restricted; (.pro, .biz, .name) domains that can only be used for their specific purposes.
3. Sponsored; (.edu, .gov, .int, .mil, .aero, .cat, .asia, .mobi, .coop, .travel, .tel, .jobs) domains that can only be used by businesses involved specifically with that industry.
4. Infrastructure; (.arpa) which was one of the original top-level domains used to help with the DNS infrastructure.

If you like this article try reading this from Wikipedia.  They have additional information about gTLDs.

Second-Level Domains

Within the DNS hierarchy, second-level domains are domains that follow top-level domains.

For example, in “google.com”, “Google” is the second-level domain of the “.com” top-level domain”. Quite often, second-level domains are the name of the business or vendor that registered the domain name with a registrar. The brand name, company name, or project name is the identifier for potential customers.

On top of these general second-level domains, there are also country code second-level domains (ccSLD). In such cases, the second-level domain will be found to the right of the period; for example, in a domain such as “Google.co.ca”, the country code top-level domain is “.ca” and the ccSLD is “.co”.

Third-level domains

Within the DNS hierarchy, third-level domains naturally follow second-level domains. They can be found to the left of SLD and are often referred to as the subdomain.

Larger companies often use third-level domains as identifiers that can distinguish between various departments or parts of their site.

Generally speaking, “www” is the most common third-level domain. If a company does use multiple third-level domains, those are generally referring to a specific server within the company.

Registering Domains Names

There is a wide variety of domain names available for ownership. However, before you can utilize them, you must understand the registration process.

To use a domain name, it must be registered with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). ICANN oversees the assignment and categorization of domain names, ensuring a smooth registration process. You need to go through a domain name registrar, such as AppalachiaDomains.com, to register with ICANN. At Appalachia Domains, when you buy a domain name, we handle the registration on your behalf.

After choosing an appropriate name and confirming its availability, you will need to provide the following information for registration:

• Your contact info; including first and last name, payment info, billing info, physical address, phone number, and email address.
• Your desired domain name.
• The chosen domain name registration term (starting at one year.)

Understand Domain Names to Choose One For Your Idea

It is crucial to emphasize the importance of finding the right domain name for yourself or your business. Despite being overlooked at times, a good domain name is essential for staying top of mind with your customers and audience.