Domain names

Each computer on the Internet has a numeric address that acts like a telephone number, allowing each computer to find each other and talk. Mnemonic names are often used which resolve to these numeric Internet addresses, because numeric addresses are hard to remember.

Like telephone numbers, these names are broken down into hierarchical parts. A dot (.) represents the root of the hierarchy and is used as a boundary between domains (as defined in English as an area or realm under control of an entity). Below are some examples showing the hierarchy.

• . : The root namespace
• com. : The "com" top-level domain
• example.com. : The "example" domain name
• www.example.com. : The "www" host name

In the above example, "example.com" is a domain name that represents a specific domain of computers under the "com" top-level domain, and "www.example.com" is likely the web server in the "example.com" domain. The top-level domains such as ".com", ".net", and ".org" are controlled by the domain name registry, but users can register a domain name under the top-level domains in order to name the computers that they control.

The domain name registrant does not "own" the domain name but is the registered controller of it for the period of time that the domain name is registered. A domain name can be registered through a domain name registrar.

See also

• How to choose a domain name
• The dos and don'ts of domain registration
• Domain name registrar
• Domain name - web hosting relationship

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