What is a Domain Name?

Imagine that everybody in the world used their telephone number instead of their name... If names didn't exist, you'd be forced to invent them, or you'd never be able to identify your closest friends, let alone casual acquaintances you'd met only a couple of times!

Domain names were invented to fill a similar need on the Internet. Most computers connected to the Internet are identified by a unique number called an IP address (for instance, 234.208.12.129). IP addresses are neither intuitive (they don't correspond to a geographical location) nor easy to remember.

If you type the IP address into the URL bar of your browser you will be taken to the web site it relates to. As well as being hard to remember, however, IP addresses are also FIXED (i.e. if you change web hosting companies you'll need to get a new IP address for your site).

Domain names offer a more intuitive way to name and find a website. Each domain name replaces a string of meaningless numbers (an IP address) with a simple word or expression. That's the theory - in practice, domain names can be pretty obscure too. A domain name is the label used to identify the Web site, for example "http://www.qualitylinkbuilding.com" It usually describes some aspect of the site and is easier for the visitors to remember than the Web address, also known as the IP address.

.com is the top domain under which the other domain name is registered. There are heaps of different top domains out there, from commercial (.com) through to non-profit (.org) and even country-specific top domains such as France (.fr) and Italy (.it). Every domain name is registered under a top domain of some kind. The top domain is often known as the domain extension. History of domain

When top-level domains were first implemented, in January 1985, there were six:

.com
.edu
.gov
.net
.org
.mil

The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) currently classifies top-level domains into three types:

country code top-level domains (ccTLD): Used by a country or a dependent territory. It is two letters long, for example jp for Japan.

generic top-level domain (gTLD): Used (at least in theory) by a particular class of organizations (for example, com for commercial organizations). It is three or more letters long. Most gTLDs are available for use worldwide, but for historical reasons gov and mil are restricted to the government and military, respectively, of the USA.

infrastructure top-level domain: The top-level domain arpa is the only one.

A full list of currently existing TLDs can be found at the list of Internet top-level domains.

Domain Name System

When the Internet was being collaboratively developed by a substantially technical community around a growing but still manageable Internet Engineering Task Force, the Domain Name System (DNS) evolved as a hierarchical solution to the problem of keeping track of which computers had which Internet Protocol (IP) addresses.

The Internet however, is based on IP addresses. Domain Name System (or Service or Server), an Internet service that translates domain names into IP addresses. Because domain names are alphabetic, they're easier to remember.

How does the Domain Name system work?

Every time you use a domain name, therefore, a DNS service must translate the name into the corresponding IP address. For example, the domain name http://www.qualitylinkbuilding.com, http://www.seo-professional-india.com , http://www.selldomaindomain.com might translate to 198.105.232.4

The DNS system is, in fact, its own network. If one DNS server doesn't know how to translate a particular domain name, it asks another one, and so on, until the correct IP address is returned.

Without DNS, we'd all have to memorize long numbers instead of URLs or E-mail addresses. What a mess that would be! Guidelines for the registering a domain names

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Ihe ICANN coordinates the assignment of Internet Domain Names, IP address numbers, protocol parameter and port numbers and identifiers that must be globally unique for the Internet to function. Domain name guidelines:

1. The main part of the name ('yahoo') can only contain the letters a-z, the digits 0-9, and a dash (-).

2. The dash can't be at the beginning or end of a name.

3. Underscore (_) and other special characters are not allowed.

4. The name may not exceed 63 characters, excluding the characters used to identify the Top Level Domain (such as.com.biz.info.net.org).

5. Upper and lower-case characters are equivalent: YAHOO.COM is the same as yahoo.com.

6. The end of the name (e.g. '.com') is called the TLD (Top Level Domain). Conventions for TLD's are discussed below.

What does it mean to "register" a domain name?

When you register a domain name, you are inserting an entry into a directory of all the domain names and their corresponding computers on the Internet.

Domain Name Registrar?

Registrars are companies that compete with each other and enter new or renew domains into a TLD Registry(s). 1. Domain Name Registrars can set their own registration and renewal fees.

2. All Registrars are required to collect the same information.

3. The differences between Registrars are basically: price and service.

Some answers for Frequently Asked Questions

How do I register a domain name?

Domain names ending with .aero.biz.com.coop.info.museum.name.net.org, or .pro can be registered through many different companies (known as "registrars") that compete with one another.

The registrar you choose will ask you to provide various contact and technical information that makes up the registration. The registrar will then keep records of the contact information and submit the technical information to a central directory known as the "registry." This registry provides other computers on the Internet the information necessary to send you e-mail or to find your web site. You will also be required to enter a registration contract with the registrar, which sets forth the terms under which your registration is accepted and will be maintained. Domain Names aren't free. But, if you are a serious about your business, a Domain Name is the best investment you can make. To register your Domain Name:

1. Determine what Top Level Domain (TLD) you are qualified to use: gTLD, rTLD or ccTLD.

2. Click on the TLDs Registry and select a Certified Registrar.

3. Conduct a WHOIS Search and determine if your domain name is availabe.

Fill out their form.

Double check your domain name spelling and extension. Click process link.

Will my name and contact information be publicly available? Information about who is responsible for domain names is publicly available to allow rapid resolution of technical problems and to permit enforcement of consumer protection, trademark, and other laws. The registrar will make this information available to the public on a "Whois" site. It is however possible to register a domain in the name of a third party, as long as they agree to accept responsibility -- ask your registrar for further details.

How long does a registration last? Can it be renewed? Each registrar has the flexibility to offer initial and renewal registrations in one-year increments, with a total registration period limit of ten years.

How much does a domain-name registration name cost?

Each registrar sets the price it charges for registering names, and prices vary significantly among different registrars. In addition, some registrars offer discounted or free registration services in connection with other offerings, such as web hosting.

Can I change registrars after registering a domain name? Yes, you may change the registrar sponsoring your domain name (60 days after intial registration.) For details on the transfer process, contact the registrar you would like to assume sponsorship of the registration.

Regards,

Mirza Mohd Ali Baig
Seo Professional India
http://www.qualitylinkbuilding.com
http://www.selldomaindomain.com
Email: contactseo@gmail.com
Phone: 00919391136471