A domain name is a human-readable address that is used to identify and locate websites on the internet. It serves as a more user-friendly way to access websites compared to using IP addresses, which are numerical values that computers use to identify each other on a network.
A typical domain name consists of two main parts: the actual name and the top-level domain (TLD). For example, in the domain name “www.warehow.co.in,” “example” is the actual name, and “.com” is the TLD. Here’s a breakdown of the parts:
- Actual Name: This is the unique name that you choose for your website. It’s often related to the content or purpose of the website. It can consist of letters, numbers, and hyphens, but no spaces.
- Top-Level Domain (TLD): This is the part that comes after the actual name and typically represents the type or purpose of the website. Common TLDs include “.com” (commercial), “.org” (organization), “.net” (network), “.edu” (educational), and “.gov” (government), among others. In recent years, a wider variety of TLDs have become available, including things like “.blog,” “.tech,” “.app,” and many more.
When you type a domain name into a web browser’s address bar, the browser uses the domain name system (DNS) to translate the human-readable domain into the corresponding IP address of the web server where the website is hosted. This enables you to access the website’s content.
Domain names play a crucial role in establishing an online presence and brand identity. They are used not only for websites but also for email addresses, making them an important aspect of online communication and navigation.