Domain Name and Its Parts – An Overview

What is a domain name? What are the parts of a domain name? What is the difference between a domain name and URL? Get all the answers that will assist you in finding your own perfect web address.

The follwing questions are answered below:

• What is a Domain Name?
• What is an IP Address?
• What is DNS?
• What are the Parts of a Domain Name?
• What is a Subdomain?
• What is the Difference Between Domain Name and URL?
• Who are the Best Domain Registrars?

What is a Domain Name?

A domain name is your unique web address for your website. For example steps-to-make-your-own-website.com is the domain name of this website. Without any system to name websites, there would have been total chaos inside the jungle of internet, leave alone trying to locate your website.

With the Domain Name System (DNS) you can create your desired name for your website which when entered into a web browser leads to your website.

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What is an IP Address?

Just like your house has a mailing address that is unique for it and based on which you receive your correct mail or courier, similarly an IP address is the unique number assigned to the device or entity on the internet network so that you receive your correct information or data.

The format of an IP address is a 32-bit numeric address written as four numbers separated by periods. Each number can be zero to 255. For example 216.95.221.39 is the IP address of sitesell.com which is the webhost for this website.

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What is DNS?

From the above example, you will note that it is more convenient to know about a website, or any device for that matter, by a worded name rather than humanly meaningless numbers. Similarly it is easier to name an e-mail address as service@sitesell.com than service@216.95.221.39.

The domain name system makes it possible to assign domain names to groups of Internet users in a meaningful way, independent of each user's physical location.

The DNS system thus renders order to the internet traffic, without which there would have been chaos far beyond anyone’s imagination.

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What are the Parts of a Domain Name?

Second Level Domain - . The second-level domain name is the part of the domain name located to the left of the dot. Steps-to-make-your-own-website is the second-level domain name and represents the organization or entity behind the internet. Second Level Domain name must be registered with an Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)-accredited registrar.

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What is a Subdomain?

Subdomains are also known as the Third Level Domains. As seen in the above examples subdomains are prefixed to the left of the Second Level Domain name and the two are separated by a period.

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What is the Difference Between Domain Name and URL?

A domain name is the unique name assigned to a website. In contrast, a URL is the address to reach that website, or to a specific file, page, section, etc on that website.

For example “steps-to-make-your-own-website.com” is the domain name of this website and the URL for its home page is written as:
http://www.steps-to-make-your-own-website.com/index.html

Thus a URL consists of the following, from left to right:

• - Protocol identifier – http in the above example
• - Colon :
• - Two back slashes //
• - Subdomain (Third Level Domain name) or “www” as the default subdomain, followed by a dot.
• - Domain Name or IP Address (Second Level Domain name), followed by a dot.
• - Top Level Domain name as seen in the domain name
• - Back slash / to indicate the path to reach the resource document
• - Name of the file, document, etc.

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Who are the Best Domain Registrars?

Want to go shopping to buy domains? How do you know where you will get a fair deal? Do you always go to the cheapest one?

The best domain registrar need not be the cheapest domain registrar. It’s not always the cost of a domain name that makes a registrar a good or an average one. Neither does a good sounding name make a registrar a good one.

There are numerous domain registrars and domain resellers that have flooded the domain registration industry. Obviously they all are there for business and sometimes your interest might not be their upmost priority. In such a scenario it is easy to get duped by certain unscrupulous ones.

Below we offer a list of the best domain registrars:

• 1 - GoDaddy - World’s Largest Domain Registrar
• For price and service features read our: GoDaddy - Review

• 2 - Dotster - Over 10 Years & 1 Million Customers
• For price and service features read our: Dotster - Review

• 3 - Register.com - Get 25% off your entire shopping cart use coupon code : REGISTERSPECIAL25.....applicable through this link only.
• For price and service features read our: Register.com - Review

• 4 - Network Solutions – Over 30 Years of Experience
• For price and service features read our: Network Solutions - Review

• 5 - Moniker - Over 2.44 Million Domain Names Under Their Management
• For price and service features read our: Moniker - Review

• 6 - Netfirms - LOWEST priced 1-year .com anywhere
• For price and service features read our: Netfirms - Review

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