A domain name is a human-readable address used to identify a website or other internet service, such as example.com, bbc.co.uk, or wikipedia.org. Domain names exist because IP addresses (the numerical identifiers computers actually use) are difficult for people to remember.

Domain names are managed through a global system overseen by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) and registered through commercial domain registrars.

Anatomy of a domain name

A typical domain name has several parts, read right to left:

   subdomain.second-level-domain.top-level-domain
   www.       example.            com

Top-Level Domain (TLD). The rightmost part: .com, .org, .net, .io, .co.uk, etc.
Second-level domain (SLD). The customizable name: example in example.com
Subdomain. Optional prefix: www, blog, shop, app

The full string www.example.com is called the fully qualified domain name (FQDN).

Top-level domains (TLDs)

TLDs fall into several categories:

Category	Examples	Notes
Generic (gTLD)	`.com`, `.org`, `.net`, `.info`, `.biz`	Originally use-specific, now mostly open registration
Country code (ccTLD)	`.uk`, `.de`, `.au`, `.jp`, `.za`	Tied to a country or territory
New gTLDs	`.shop`, `.app`, `.dev`, `.io`, `.ai`	Released since 2014, often industry- or theme-specific
Sponsored	`.gov`, `.edu`, `.mil`, `.museum`	Restricted to qualified registrants

.com remains the most familiar and trusted TLD for general business use. Specialized TLDs (.io, .ai, .dev) are common in technology contexts.

How domain registration works

A user searches for an available name through a registrar (Namecheap, Cloudflare Registrar, Porkbun, GoDaddy, Google Domains, etc.)
If available, the user pays a registration fee (typically annual)
The registrar registers the domain with the appropriate TLD registry
The user becomes the registrant for the registration period
The user configures DNS to point the domain at servers, mail providers, and other services

Domains are typically registered for 1–10 years and must be renewed before expiration to retain ownership.

Domain ownership

Strictly, a domain is registered, not owned outright. The registrant has the exclusive right to use the domain for the registration period and the right to renew. If a registration lapses without renewal, the domain becomes available to others after a grace period.

ICANN’s policies define ownership rights, transfers between registrars, and dispute resolution.

Domain transfer

A domain can be transferred:

Between registrars. The owner moves the domain from one registrar to another while retaining ownership
Between owners. The current registrant transfers ownership to another party
Internally within a registrar. Some registrars allow account-to-account transfers

Transfers typically require an authorization code from the current registrar and may have waiting periods (e.g., 60 days after initial registration or a recent transfer).

Domain pricing

Tier	Examples	Typical annual cost
Standard `.com`	A typical available `.com`	$10–$15
Premium TLDs	`.io`, `.ai`, `.dev`	$20–$80
Premium domains	Short or memorable names already owned by speculators	Hundreds to millions
ccTLDs	Varies by country	Free (some) to several hundred

Renewal prices may differ from initial registration prices, particularly with promotional first-year pricing.

Connecting a domain to a website

After registering a domain, the user configures DNS to point it at the website’s hosting:

The registrar provides a DNS management interface (or the domain’s nameservers can be changed to a third-party DNS provider)
An A record or CNAME points the domain at the hosting provider’s servers
Additional records can route email, verify domain ownership for services, or set up subdomains
Once DNS propagates, visitors typing the domain reach the hosted site

Common misconceptions

“You buy a domain forever.” Domains are registered for fixed periods and must be renewed.
“Domain and hosting are the same.” They are separate services that often come from separate providers (though some providers bundle both).
“Cheap domains are the same as expensive domains technically.” Yes, a $10 .com and a $100,000 .com use the same DNS infrastructure. Pricing reflects perceived value, memorability, or branding, not technical capability.
“You can register any domain you want.” Domains already registered by others are unavailable, and some are restricted (.gov, .edu, country-specific TLDs).