endeRH-Webdesign | Shopware Freelancer

What is a domain?

A domain is a unique and unambiguous name for a website or other part of the Internet. For Internet users, such domain names are much more practical than long sequences of numbers in IP addresses. As an essential part of the URL, domain names serve as usually well remembered website addresses.

  • Uniquely assigned name for Internet site
  • The domain name system is managed by ICANN
  • Very practical for accessing web pages
  • Consists of several levels

Sense and purpose of a domain

Web servers are identified by unique codes (IP addresses), which allow browsers to retrieve web page content of any kind. Since numeric codes are rather cumbersome to handle, names or domain names in words have become widely accepted. The translation of IP addresses into domains and vice versa is done by so-called name servers. Domains work on more than just one level. These are two important components of a domain. Top-level domain and second-level domain. To the right of the dot in the address is the top-level domain (or TLD), the most popular is the ending “.com”. However, one often comes across TLDs such as .net or .org or country codes such as .de and .uk. These TLDs are sometimes called “parent” domains. The top-level domain is essential for the functioning of a domain. To the left of the dot is the second-level domain. This can be a name, for example the name of a company, blog or business. It is, so to speak, the “identity” of the website in question. You can choose almost any name you want as a second level domain. A third level domain is called a third level domain. This in turn is to the left of the 2nd level domain. Through the third-level-domains you can define sub-addresses of domains, which clearly separate different areas from each other. In general, a subdomain is a domain that can be found below another domain in the hierarchy. Thus, every domain below the top-level domain is a subdomain. As soon as you have registered a domain, you also have the right to create subdomains yourself. Who is actually responsible for the Domain Name System? The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) administers the Domain Name System. It is a non-profit organization that creates and implements policies for domain names

Choose a domain name – but how?

There are currently more than 350 million domain names registered, and thousands of new names are registered every day. This means that all good names are already registered or will be registered very soon. This puts a lot of pressure on new users to develop a domain name idea for their website. A good idea when choosing a domain name for a website is to give priority to .com domain names, as this is the most popular, easiest to remember and easiest to promote. In any case, you should make sure that the domain name is short and easy to remember. It should also be easy to pronounce and spell. Numbers or hyphens should not be used if possible. You can also use so-called domain name generators on the Internet to find clever ideas for domain names. Domain names can be bought from one of the many domain name registrars. ICANN gives such companies (Domain Name Registrars) permission to sell domain names. These domain name registrars may make changes to the domain name registration on your behalf. Domain name registrars can sell domain names, manage their records, renew and transfer domain names to other registrars. As a domain name owner, you are responsible for telling the registrar where to send requests and are also responsible for renewing your domain name registration

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