Domain Name Basics

Domain names are becoming a household or office necessity like toilet paper and light bulbs. But anyone new to the craze may wonder what a domain name is and what one might look like.


IP’s in Disguise
Technically speaking a domain name is an alias for a numeric code. The numeric code is called an IP address. The format of an IP address is written as four numbers separated by periods, where each number can be from zero to 255. For example, 22.170.12.250 could be an IP address. The IP address is how a domain name is recognized by the domain name server. However, a long number like that is difficult for people to remember, so domain names were created to give an alias to IP addresses that would be easier for people to communicate and remember.

Domains Are Everywhere
Today domain names are all around. Almost everywhere you look these days, on billboards, television, ads, you see a domain name. If you have used the internet or sent an email you have used a domain name.

When using the internet, you use a domain name when you type a web address, or URL. A web address would look something like this: http://www.example.com The domain name is “example.com.”

To send an email you must also use a domain name. For example you send an email to yourfriend@example.com. In this email address “example.com” is the domain name.

Where to Get a Domain Name
You get a domain name from a domain name registrar. We have researched domain name registrars to find the best services and the lowest prices. Our favorite is Go Daddy. They are by far the cheapest and most reliable.