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What is a Domain Name?
For all intents and purposes, your domain
name is your online identity, which allows internet users from around
the world to locate and browse your website from their computer.
Technically speaking, a domain name is an alias which refers Internet
users to your ISP address, a complicated series of numbers that
represent your space on the web. Developed to make ISP addresses
easier to remember, domain names consist of three parts: the second
level domain, the root, and the top level domain. The second level
domain is the name of your website.
The History of Domain Names
Quite surprisingly, the history of
domain names can be traced clear back to the 1960's, well before
the advent of the personal computer. In the 1960's the United States
Department of Defense established the Internet, and set up the present
domain name system, using generic top-level domains (gTLDs) as a
way of describing organizational and political structures. In the
past few years, several of these gTLDs have been granted "unrestricted"
classification, meaning that anyone can register and use a domain
in that particular gTLD. Below is a listing of current gTLDs, their
specified use, and their classification.
| Top Level Domain |
Specified Use |
Classification |
| .com |
Commercial Companies |
Unrestricted |
| .edu |
Educational Institutions |
4Year Institutions |
| .gov |
Government Agencies |
Restricted to US Government |
| .mil |
Military Agencies |
Restricted to US Military |
| .net |
Network Providers |
Unrestricted |
| .org |
Non-Profit Organizations |
Unrestricted |
| .arpa |
Historical Remnant |
No Longer Available |
All unrestricted gTLDs,
such as .com, .net, and .org, can be registed by anyone. In addition
to these, there are several new gTLDs currently being considered,
which will probably be added soon, including: .info, .biz, .name,
.aero, .museum, .coop, and .pro.
Applying For a Domain Name
In order to apply for a domain name,
you must provide information on at least two servers who will be
responsible for handling all DNS inquiries concerning your domain
on the Internet. This requirement makes it relatively difficult
and extremely expensive for an individual to apply for a domain
name, so most people allow Internet service companies to handle
domain name registration and account setup for a minimal fee. These
days there are literally thousands of Domain registrars on the web,
all offering a variety of services, so make sure to shop around
for the best deal. In case you are serious about registering your
own domain name, here are the official requirements:
At least two independent
Servers MUST be provided for translating names to addresses for
Hosts in the Domain. A Domain name may be removed from the InterNIC
database, after notice, if at least two Name Servers are not reachable
and functioning properly. DO NOT list Name Servers if you do not
have permission from the owner to do so. Listing Name Servers without
the explicit approval of the owners is not only unethical, but can
cause operational problems for the Name Servers listed. The Servers
should be in physically separate locations and on different networks,
if possible. The Servers should be active and respond to Domain
Name System (DNS) queries BEFORE this application is submitted.
Incomplete information in Sections 7 and 8 will result in a returned
template. Most ISPs can provide one or more Name Servers if you
do not have your own.
If the last passage
made little or no sense to you, you probably do not qualify to register
your own domain name, and would be better off using a domain registrar.
The process of registering for a domain name requires advanced computer
skills, and is much more than filling out an application and mailing
it in.
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