Beginner’s Guide: What is a Domain Name and How Do Domains Work?

Every great project begins with a name. For your website, that special name is called a domain.

This guide is all about what a domain name is and how this simple piece of text connects you to people all over the globe.

It’s more than just a technical item on a checklist. It’s the name on your virtual front door, welcoming everyone in.

Helping people find that perfect name is something we truly enjoy. It’s a creative and foundational step for any new venture.

We’re here to walk you through how it all works, simply and clearly. You’ll see that getting your own domain is a simple and exciting step.

Here is a quick overview of the topics we will cover in this guide:

Let’s dive in!

What Is a Domain Name?

A domain name is your website’s unique address on the internet. People type it into their browser to find your site. Think of it like a street address for a house.

Behind the scenes, every device on the internet has a special number called an IP address. It looks like 66.249.66.1. These numbers help computers talk to each other, but they are hard for people to remember.

Domain names solve this problem. Instead of typing a complex number, you use a simple, friendly name like wpbeginner.com. Your computer then changes this name into the correct IP address and loads the website.

So, domain names make the internet much simpler to use. They give websites an easy-to-remember name.

How Do Domain Names Actually Work?

Let’s see what happens when you type a domain name into your web browser (like Chrome or Firefox).

First, your browser sends a request to a global network of servers called the Domain Name System (DNS). Imagine it as a giant phone book for all domain names.

These DNS servers then find the ‘name servers’ linked to that domain and forward your request to those name servers.

For example, if your website uses Bluehost, its name servers might be ns1.bluehost.com and ns2.bluehost.com. These are computers managed by your hosting company.

After that, your hosting provider forwards your request to the computer where your website files are stored. This computer is called a web server. It uses special software (like Apache or Nginx) to get your request ready.

The web server then collects all the parts of your website, including files, images, and other information.

Finally, this information goes back to your browser, and you see the website on your screen.

How Is a Domain Name Different from a Website and Web Hosting?

People often ask about the difference between a domain name, web hosting, and a website. They all work together, but each has its own job.

Think of it this way:

• Your domain name is your website’s address (like wpbeginner.com). It’s like the street address of a house 🪧.
• Web hosting is the land where your website lives.
• The website itself is the building people visit. It’s made of files, pictures, and programs. Think of it like the building where your website’s things are kept 🏠.

When someone types your domain (like wpbeginner.com) into their browser, the internet finds the web hosting server where your site is stored. Then, it shows the website to the visitor.

Without web hosting, your website would have no home. It would just be an address leading nowhere.

For example, WPBeginner.com is our domain name. But the actual website files are stored on a web hosting server. We use SiteGround to host our website. This means when you visit WPBeginner.com, you are seeing files stored on SiteGround’s servers.

To build a website, you need both a domain name and web hosting. These two things are necessary for any new site, blog, or online store.

You don’t have to buy both from the same company. They are separate services. You can get them from different providers.

If you buy them separately, you will need to update your domain settings . You will need your hosting provider’s Name Server details. This makes sure your domain sends visitors to the right web hosting server.

To keep things simple, we suggest getting your domain and hosting from the same company. Most web hosts will connect them for you automatically. This makes setting up your site easy.

Want to learn more? Read our full guide on the difference between domain names and web hosting.

Different Types of Domain Names

Domain names come in many different types. The most popular one is .com. Other options include .org, .net, .tv, .info, and .io. Usually, it’s a good idea to use a .com domain extension.

Let’s look at the different types:

Top Level Domain (TLD)

These are general domain endings at the highest level of the domain system. They are also called gTLDs (generic top-level domains). There are hundreds of TLDs. The most common are .com, .org, and .net. Others are less known, such as .biz, .club, .info, and .agency.

Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLD)

These are domain names specific to a country. They end with a country code, like .uk for the United Kingdom, .de for Germany, or .in for India. Websites use them to reach people in a certain country.

Sponsored Top Level Domain (sTLD)

An sTLD is a type of TLD that has a sponsor. This sponsor represents a specific group or community. For example, .edu is for education-related groups, .gov is for the United States government, and .mil is for the United States military.

Second Level Domain (SLD)

The second-level domain is the name that comes before the TLD. For instance, in wpbeginner.com, “wpbeginner” is the second-level domain. .com is the TLD.

Domain registries use SLDs to organize their country-code domains. For example, Australia’s .au ccTLD has .com.au and .net.au. Here, .com is not a TLD. It’s an sTLD of the .au TLD.

Also, in .co.uk domains, .co is the SLD for the .uk TLD.

Related:

• Com vs Net – What’s the Difference Between Domain Extensions
• .Org vs .Com: Which is the Better Domain Extension?

Who Is Responsible for the Domain Name System?

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) manages the domain name system. It’s a non-profit group that creates rules for domain names.

ICANN gives permission to companies called domain name registrars to sell domain names. These registrars can update the domain name registry for you.

Domain name registrars can sell, manage, renew, and transfer domain names between registrars.

As a domain owner, you tell the registrar where to send website requests. You also need to renew your domain registration when it’s due.

How to Choose a Domain Name for Your Website?

Picking the right domain name feels like naming a new business—it’s exciting but also a little nerve-wracking. With over 362.4 million registered domains (source: Verisign), finding an available one can be tricky.

If you’ve ever come up with the perfect domain idea only to find out it’s already taken, you’re not alone. It happens to all of us.

Good domains get snapped up fast, and that pressure can make choosing one feel difficult.

That’s why we built a free business name generator tool. It helps you brainstorm creative website names and check if the domain is available—saving you time and frustration.

Here are some simple tips to help you find the perfect domain name:

• Stick with a .com—it’s the most recognizable and easiest to remember.
• Keep it short and simple. The fewer words, the easier it is to type and share.
• Make sure it’s easy to say out loud and spell correctly.
• Avoid numbers and hyphens. They confuse people and make the domain harder to remember.
• Use domain name generators if you need fresh ideas.

Want more in-depth advice? Check out our full guide on choosing the best domain name. It contains all the tips we use when choosing a domain name for our own businesses and websites.

How to Buy a Domain Name

You can buy your chosen domain name from a domain registrar. A domain name registration usually costs about $14.99 per year. Here are some popular domain companies:

• Network Solutions (use our Network Solutions coupon code to get 67% off)
• GoDaddy
• Namecheap

Buying a domain does not give you hosting automatically. You will also need a website hosting account.

Many WordPress hosting companies offer domain registration. This lets you manage both services in one account. You also won’t need to change name server settings for your domain.

We suggest using Bluehost. They offer WPBeginner users a free domain name and a big discount on hosting. You can get started for $1.99/month.

Frequently Asked Questions About Domain Names

Here are answers to common questions about domain names.

1. What is a subdomain?

A subdomain is a child domain under your main domain. For example, videos.wpbeginner.com is a subdomain of wpbeginner.com. You can create subdomains yourself once you register a main domain. Websites often use subdomains for parts like a blog or online store (e.g., blog.example.com).

2. Can I cancel my registration of a domain name?

Some registrars let you cancel your domain registration at any time. If you cancel, the domain becomes available for others. Other registrars let you simply let your registration expire. You usually won’t get a refund for canceling. However, some registrars have refund rules you can check. If auto-renew is off, your domain will expire after the paid period.

3. Can I move my website to a different domain name?

Yes, you can. You can point your domain to your hosting server. You can also have both domain names point to the same website. But search engines might see this as duplicate content, which can hurt your search rankings. We have a guide on how to properly move a website to a new domain without losing SEO.

4. Can I sell a domain name?

Yes, you can sell your domain name. Domain names are like digital real estate. There is a high demand for good, memorable domain names. Selling domain names is a big business. Many entrepreneurs look for great domain ideas to buy. You can list your domain for sale on marketplaces like Sedo or GoDaddy. Registrars like Network Solutions also let you buy premium domains directly.

5. What is domain privacy? Do I need it?

ICANN requires domain owners to provide public contact information (email, address, phone). Domain Privacy is an extra service sold by registrars. It lets you show substitute information instead of your real personal details. You don’t have to buy domain privacy. But if you care about privacy, you can get this service for a small fee.

6. Can I find out who owns a domain name?

You can use a Whois lookup tool to find domain ownership information. However, if the domain uses domain privacy, you will see the registrar’s proxy information instead.

7. Can I buy more than one domain name?

Yes, you can buy as many domain names as you like.

8. What is www? Is it a part of domain names?

WWW stands for World Wide Web. Early internet experts used it to show something was a web address. It is not required now, and many websites don’t use “www” in their addresses. Technically, “www” is a subdomain of your main domain. Anything before your main domain with a dot is a subdomain (like videos.wpbeginner.com).

9. What is the difference between a URL and a domain name?

URL means Uniform Resource Locator. It’s a web address that takes you to a specific page or file on a website. A domain name by itself points to a particular website. If you type just a domain name (e.g., wpbeginner.com) into your browser, it changes into a URL like https://wpbeginner.com and takes you to the website’s homepage. Every page or file you see online has its own URL.

10. What is the difference between a domain name and a website?

A website is made of files like HTML pages, website builder software, and images. It gives you an online presence. If the domain name is the web address, then web hosting is the home where your website lives.

11. What is HTTP and HTTPS?

HTTP means Hypertext Transfer Protocol. It is the internet technology used to get information from the web. HTTPS is a newer, secure version: Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol. HTTPS means a website uses SSL, which is a safe way to send data online. Your website should use HTTPS.

12. Where can I learn more about making websites?

You can learn right here! WPBeginner is the biggest WordPress help site for beginners. We have tutorials, guides, and videos just for beginners. Here are some free resources:

• How to make a website (step-by-step guide for beginners)
• WPBeginner Videos – Our series of WordPress video tutorials for beginners
• WPBeginner Dictionary – Our list of terms to help you understand WordPress words
• WPBeginner Blog – Where we share our WordPress tutorials and guides.
• WPBeginner on YouTube – Want more video help? Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

We hope this article helped you learn what is a domain name and how domains work. You may also want to see our list of best free domain name generators to find cool ideas for your next domain name.

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