Domain Name Registration Articles >> Introduction to Domain Names

Domain names are unique identifiers used to help find websites on the Internet. In much the same way that your first and last names help to identify who you are to others, domain names enable you to easily find and surf to your favorite websites just by typing that domain name registration address) into your browser window. For example, the domain name registration this website "freelancerindia.com ." ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) assumes responsibility for management and coordination of the domain name registration (DNS) by overseeing the distribution of domain names and unique IP addresses across the Internet.

Domain Names - The technical Part

The Internet's domain name registration or DNS for short was designed with ease of use in mind. Each computer on the Internet is assigned an IP address or Internet Protocol. This all-numeric IP address (i.e.: 192.168.0.1) is what distinguishes your computer as unique from all the other computers online today. Likewise, computer servers, which serve up web pages to the Internet world, are also assigned unique IP addresses. Now, imagine trying to find your favorite site each day by having to type in a long IP address like 192.168.0.1! Not only would that be time consuming, but also confusing! Hence the reason why domain names have become an effective means of labeling different websites across the Internet. Each unique name identifies a different website online. In simpler terms, the mapping of domain names to IP addresses takes place behind the scenes, which means that when you type "AlliesInteractive.com " into your browser window, your computer, which speaks only in numbers, translates "freelancerindia.com " into the IP number associated with the website you want to view.

Domain Name Extensions

Each domain name registration with what’s known as an extension. A domain name registration is another tool of identification. An extension or TLD (Top Level Domain) consists of the last few letters following the final period or “dot” in the name itself. The extension /TLD for google.com is “.com.” There are a host of top-level domain name registration available today, such as:

.com (Commercial Organizations)
.net (Networks)
.org (Not-for-profit Organizations)
.edu (Educational)
.gov (Government)
.biz (Business)

The above listing of domain name registration is often referred to as generic or gTLDs