A domain name is a name that identifies a computer on the net. This is the definition that we are concerned with as an online marketer. Technically domain name also implies many other relates meanings but we would not consider them for a while.
Hostname or web address are more common terms used for domain names. Domain names provide more rememberable names to stand in for numeric IP address. It is because of domain names that you are able to remember the names of websites which are actually represented by numbers.
(It is easier to remember someexample.com instead of 132.173.0.654.)
The flexibility of the domain name system allows multiple IP addresses to be assigned to a single domain name, or multiple domain names to be assigned to a single IP address.
Domain names are different from URLs. Let us take an example to differentiate between domain name and a universal resource locator
URL: http://yourdomain.com
Domain name: yourdomain.com
In this example the domain name has two parts yourdomain and .com.
.com is called top level domain (TLD) and yourdomain would be called second level domain. Similarly if you make a further subdomain and name it somename then the address to that would become somename.yourdomain.com.
In such situations somename would be called third level domain. You can create any number of domains on a TLD without any restriction. Domains of third and higher levels are commonly called subdomains.
You must have seen many kinds of TLDs when surfing the web.
.com is most commonly used top level domain. Others which are commonly used are .org, .biz, .net etc. There are many others TLDs which are permissible by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.) which looks after the work of assignment of domain names and IP addresses.
Currently this list includes following TLDs-
* .aero: Reserved for the global aviation community. Sponsored by Societe Internationale de Telecommunications Aeronautiques SC (SITA)
* .asia: Reserved for the Pan-Asia and Asia Pacific region. sponsored by DotAsia Organisation
* .biz: Restricted to businesses, operated by NeuLevel
* .cat: Reserved for the Catalan linguistic and cultural community, sponsored by Fundació puntCat.
* .com : Operated by Verisign Global Registry Services
* .coop : Reserved for cooperatives. Sponsored by Dot Cooperation LLC.
* .info: Operated by Afilias Limited
* .jobs: Reserved for the human resource management community. Sponsored by EmployMedia LLC,operated by Afilias Limited
* .mobi: Reserved for consumers and providers of mobile products and services sponsored by mTLD Top Level Domain, Ltd.
* .museum : Restricted to museums and related persons. sponsored by the Museum Domain Management Association (MuseDoma)
* .name: Restricted to individuals. Operated by Global Name Registry.
* .net: Operated by Verisign Global Registry Services.
* .org: Operated by Public Interest Registry
* .pro: Restricted to licensed professionals. Operated by RegistryPro
* .travel: Reserved for entities whose primary area of activity is in the travel industry. Sponsored by Tralliance Corporation.
But that is not all. Apart from these TLDs which are called generic TLDs and are under direct control of ICANN, there are many country code TLDs or ccTLDs which are country or region specific. Thus .us is for USA and .uk is for UK.
About the Author:Arun Pal Singh is an internet marketer,web author who runs website http://www.homeforprofits.com to help budding online entrepreneurs with information and ready made products. Visit http://www.homeforprofits.com to find how his ebooks, softwares, audios, website building material, traffic strategies and training videos and information can provide the leverage that your business needs to grow and expand.
Subscribe to his "Online Business Manual Course" by email. Visit http://ebizgo.info now and sign up for free.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Domains, website, webpage.... oh my!
By: MommyOfWho? | 17-09-2008
Does anyone know the process of building a web page after you've bought the domain name? Internet links... step by step instructions... anything would help!
How do I find my mail server domain name?
By: toni | 06-08-2008
How do I find my mail server domain name?
Please reply to tzs13@aol.com as I doubt I'd ever be able to find my way back to here.
Thanks,
tzs13
Domain name vs. IP address: why can't I send email to Comcast customers?
By: Jetcity User | 12-06-2008
I am unable to send email to any Comcast customer from my company email. My webhost company has told me that my domain name (i.e. www.abcpi.com; not my real domain name) has been blocked but not the IP address associated with the domain name (i.e. 208.78.242.185). When you lookup the domain name for 208.78.242.185 you find webhost.dynadot.com. Is it possible that Comcast can block the name but not the IP address? In other words can they block abcpi.com but not webhost.dynadot.com even though the IP addresses are the same? Has anyone else had a similar problem and if so, how did you solve it? I'm getting nowhere with Comcast and their online forms. Thanks!
Using custom domain name for a web page
By: Scott the Rocker | 27-05-2008
I would like to build a webpage using my custom AOL domain name. Does AOL offer services in webhosting? if not, can I simply cancel my account and still get the same domain through another company, or do I have to transfer it? Any info on this would be great!
Better than bluehost? Is there any?
By: denen | 21-04-2008
Better than bluehost? Is there any?
I can't access my email at Kangaweb - is there any ...
By: lashirt | 17-04-2008
I can't access my email at Kangaweb - is there any other way? When I try to sign in the message Intenet Explorer cannot open this address etc. Can anyone help - I've never had this happen before
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