A domain (web domain) is, in simple words, the name of a site, its address on the Internet. The literal addresses of domain zones were created for easy memorization, because in fact all site addresses are indicated by numbers – IP addresses.
Each domain on the network is unique, meaning you cannot register a domain that is already taken. Domains are written in Latin letters and Cyrillic is allowed in some areas, a hyphen is also allowed in the domain, but not at the beginning or at the end of the word.
You can buy a domain from official registrars or hosting providers that are partners with domain registrars.You can talk a lot about choosing a domain zone, because there are a lot of nuances that affect the acquisition of a beautiful and successful domain for your site.
Domain and hosting – different concepts?
Yes, often beginners in the field of hosting confuse the concepts of the domain name of the site and hosting. These are completely different concepts that are used in the same context and are necessary for the site to work on the Internet.
What is a domain for dummies? This is the name of the site in the search bar of the browser, that is, the name itself and the zone through the dot
.
Hosting is directly a place on the server of the hosting provider, which is allocated for hosting the site and ensures its uninterrupted operation on the Internet.
If you just buy hosting and add an unregistered domain, then the site will not work. Similarly, and vice versa, if you simply register a domain without hosting, then there will be nowhere to add the site itself.
When is a domain needed?
So, we have already figured out what a domain is, but who needs a domain registration? First of all, it is needed by those who want to launch their website. It can be a blog, an online store, a business card site. That is, any online project that will be available in search engines for visitors.
In addition to the site, a domain may be needed if you decide to open a personal mailbox.
Also, domain names are often used to set up redirects. For example, you don’t have a website, but you have a company name that users can use to search for the site. You register your name as a domain and set up a redirect from it to a page on social networks, where visitors can get all the necessary information.
You can also register a domain just like that. For example, you liked some free name, but there is no site. You can simply register a domain and then use it in the future. This is done so that someone else does not take the domain for themselves while you decide to register it.
What are IDN domains?
IDN (Internationalized Domain Names) domains – domain names in which letters of national alphabets can be used. When you enter a domain name written in Cyrillic, it will be converted into the so-called punycode, which is written in Latin accordingly.
Already today, a large number of domain zones support the registration of IDN domains. But you should pay attention that the domain can consist of letters of only one alphabet. You will not be able to use Latin and Cyrillic characters in a domain name at the same time. On the vastness of our Internet, the most popular IDN domain zones.
Setting up a domain name
Consider the most commonly used record types for a domain:
NS server (name server) – in this entry you need to specify the name servers that store information about your domain.
A record is a record that indicates information about the IP address of the server hosting the site from the hosting provider. IPv4 information format.
AAAA record – a similar record to the previous one, but in IPv6 format.
MX record – a record that is responsible for the operation of mail using a secure protocol. The record stores the mail server addresses for the domain. It looks something like mx.example.com.
CNAME record (Canonical name) – this record indicates the host alias. It is used to bind the host to the specified function.
TXT record – a record that can store any textual information for different purposes, for example, data about the owner of a domain.
These records are configured either on the side of the domain registrar or at the hosting provider in the hosting control panel where your domain is directed.
Most domain zones do not have special requirements for registering domain names. You just need to choose a free name, fill out the form with the data of the domain owner and pay for the registration. Just a few minutes after payment, your domain name will be entered in WHOIS (a public database of registered domain names, their owners and registrars, and the technical configuration of domains).