What is a domain name?

A domain name is a Web address, such as coolexample.com, that is linked to an IP address (which represents a physical point on the Internet). The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the governing body that coordinates links between IP addresses and domain names across the Internet, so you can find Web sites by entering domain names instead of IP addresses into your Web browser.
For example, think of an IP address as an address for a house or business, such as the White House. The address, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is comparable to an IP address, and the name you know it as, the White House, is comparable to a domain name. A domain name consists of a top-level and a second-level domain. A top-level domain (TLD), or domain extension, is the part of the domain name located to the right of the dot (coolexample.com). The most common domain extensions are .COM, .NET, and .ORG. Some other popular domain extensions are .BIZ, .INFO, .NAME, and .WS. These common extensions have certain guidelines, but are usually available to any registrant, anywhere in the world.
There are also restricted top-level domains (rTLDs), like .AERO, .BIZ, .EDU, .MIL, .MUSEUM, .NAME, and .PRO that require registrants to represent a certain type of entity or to belong to a certain community. For example, the .NAME domain extension is reserved for individuals, while .EDU is reserved for educational entities. Country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) are for Web sites and registrants of a particular geographic location, such as .BZ (Belize), .CA (Canada), .DK (Denmark), .EC (Ecuador), .IE (Republic of Ireland), .UK (United Kingdom), .US (United States), and .ZW (Zimbabwe).
The part of the domain name located to the left of the dot (coolexample.com) is called the second-level domain (SLD) name. The second-level domain name is the "readable" part of the address and refers to the organization or entity behind the Internet address. Second-level domain names must be unique on the Internet and registered with an ICANN-accredited registrar. As an ICANN-accredited registrar, you can register domain names through us.

How do domain names work?

Domain register! Registering a domain doesn't automatically make your Web site appear when visitors enter your domain into a Web browser. You have to upload your Web site to a computer that hosts the site and assigns a numeric address, called an IP address, to your domain. Your domain and associated IP address are stored in a database with every other domain and associated IP address. When visitors enter your domain into a Web browser, your domain works like an address forwarding service by forwarding visitors to the IP address where your Web site is stored. We use domain names instead of IP addresses because most people find it easier to remember a name rather than a series of numbers.
When you register a domain name, you do not have to create and upload a Web site. You can also:
Sell it. Domains can be a great investment. If you have registered a domain that you are not using, maybe someone else can. Log in to your Account Manager and set up a For Sale parked page for your domain. Don't forget to include your contact information.
Protect your brand online. The more domains you register, the better. Prevent others from registering a similar domain to yours—just to steal away your customers. What to do with all these names? Forward them to your main domain.
Hold on to it. Maybe you haven’t decided what to do with your new domain. Don’t worry – there’s no rush. You can leave it parked with us for the length of your registration.
For new .COM and .NET domains and updates, it may take up to eight hours for changes to become effective. It may take up to 48 hours for changes made to all other domain extensions to become effective. This is because of the number of networks and agencies involved. Delays apply to all domains and registrars. Please allow for this delay when planning Web sites or configuring a domain to work with your email.

What do I do if I have a trademark dispute?

Unfortunately, we cannot make any changes to the registrant fields without a legal change of ownership, a court order, or an order by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
If you feel that you are the rightful owner of the domain, please contact the domain registrant. If you are unable to find a satisfactory solution with the current registrant, you need to settle the issue with a court order. We do not get involved in domain disputes.
Discrepancies with trademark or rightful ownership are handled by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Their email address is domain.disputes@wipo.int. If a domain name is under a dispute, we lock the domain name once the WIPO notifies us. It cannot be modified or transferred to another registrar. Once we receive a court or WIPO ruling, we update the domain accordingly.

Domain Register. Why do you need to register a domain name?

If your domain is available, you can register it for a period of time that you specify during the checkout process. You can use your domain to build your business and assist you in creating a dynamic online identity. You may also want to consider registering multiple cheap domain names to:
Keep your competition from registering a domain name that draws customers to them instead of you.
Promote the different products and services you offer.
Drive more traffic to your Web site.
Enjoy more opportunities to market to, and be listed on, search engines.
Create distinct advertising strategies that reach different target markets.
Provide customers more ways to find you when searching the Internet.
Capture common misspellings of your domain name, instead of sending visitors to an error page.
Protect your brand and online identity from those who may have unsavory purposes.
To get started, you need to check if the domain name you want is available.
To Check a Domain's Availability

1	Go to our Home Page.
2	In the Domain Name Search field, enter the domain you want to register, and then select the domain extension from the list.
3	Click Go.

If the domain you requested is taken, we present you with available alternatives. For example, you may be able to select a .INFO or .WS domain extension, rather than a .COM. For example, you could register www.coolexample.info, instead of www.coolexample.com.
If the domain is available, follow the instructions to complete the checkout process. As you complete your cheap domain registration, include valid contact information for each contact. ICANN, the governing body for domain names, requires valid information for your contact information (Registrant, Technical, Billing, and Administrative). If you enter false information, your domain is cancelled.
Your contact information is public and accessible through the Whois databases of most registrars. However, you can protect your privacy by registering your domain with us using our private domain name registration services.
When you purchase our private domain registration services, the Whois directory lists Domains By Proxy’s name, postal address, and phone number instead of yours. Although Domains By Proxy is the registrant of your domain name registration, you still retain the full benefits of domain registration. You can:

1	Cancel, sell, or transfer your domain registration.
2	Revert the registrant listing for your domain registration back to you.
3	Renew your domain registration when it expires.
4	Designate the nameservers for your domain.
5	Resolve claims arising out of a dispute involving your domain registration.

What is a Whois listing?

A Whois listing contains information associated with a domain name, such as its creation and expiration dates, the registrar of record, and various contacts (administrative, technical, etc.). Whois data is collected when a domain name is registered and is public information. The Whois information appears whenever a person conducts a Whois search on a particular domain name.
For information on how to keep your contact information private, see Adding Privacy to Your Domains, private domain registration.

Need more information about domain names?

please visit our FAQ area or our customer support