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

“What’s the difference between a domain name and hosting?” That’s a question we get asked regularly by new website owners. We totally get it.

If you’re new to this, the whole idea of domain names, hosting, and websites can sound intimidating and technical.

After helping millions of website owners through WPBeginner, we’ve learned the best ways to explain these concepts.

Domain names are like your website’s home address on the internet, but there’s a lot more to them than that. Understanding how they work is crucial for anyone wanting to build a successful online presence.

Let us walk you through everything you need to know about domain names in simple, clear terms. Whether you’re starting your first website or just want to understand the basics better, this guide will help you make informed decisions

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 the unique web address people type into their browser to visit a website. It’s like a street address for your site, helping visitors find it on the internet.

Behind the scenes, every device connected to the internet has a unique IP addres, which is a long string of numbers like 66.249.66.1. These numbers help computers talk to each other, but they aren’t easy to remember.

That’s where domain names come in.

Instead of typing a complex IP address, you can enter a simple, human-friendly name like wpbeginner.com. Your browser then translates it into the correct IP address and loads the website.

In short, domain names make the internet easier to use by giving websites a readable, memorable identity.

How Do Domain Names Actually Work?

To understand how domain names work, we will look at what happens when you enter them in your browser (Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, etc.).

When you enter a domain name in your web browser, it first sends a request to a global server network that forms the Domain Name System (DNS). It is like a giant phone book containing information for all the domain names.

These servers then look up the name servers or DNS servers associated with the domain and forward your request to those name servers.

For example, if your website is hosted on Bluehost, then its name server information will have DNS records like this:

ns1.bluehost.com
ns2.bluehost.com

These name servers are computers managed by your hosting company. Your hosting provider will forward your request to the computer where your website is stored.

This computer is called a web server. It has special software installed (Apache and Nginx are two popular web server software) which recieves your request and processes it.

At this point, the web server fetches the website you requested and pieces of information associated with it.

Finally, it then sends this data back to your web browser and you see the website you wanted to visit appear on your screen.

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

One of the most common questions we hear from beginners is about the difference between a domain name, web hosting, and a website. These three things work together, but they each serve a unique purpose.

Think of it this way:

• Your domain name is your website’s address (e.g. wpbeginner.com). Similar to the street address🪧 of a house.
• Web hosting is the land where your website is built.
• And the website itself is the structure that people visit, made up of files, images, and software. Think of it like the building where your website files will reside. 🏠

When someone types your domain (like WPBeginner.com) into their browser, the internet finds the web hosting server where your site is stored and loads it for the visitor.

Without web hosting, your website wouldn’t have a 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. Right now, we use SiteGround to host our website, which means when you visit WPBeginner.com, you’re accessing files stored on SiteGround’s servers.

To build a website, you need both a domain name and web hosting. Whether you’re launching a personal blog, a small business website, or an online store, these two elements are essential.

Many beginners assume they have to buy both from the same company, but that’s not the case. A domain name and hosting are separate services, and you can purchase them from different providers.

If you do buy them separately, you’ll need to update your domain settings with your hosting provider’s Name Server details. This step ensures your domain directs visitors to the correct web hosting server.

For simplicity, we recommend getting both your domain and hosting from the same company. Most web hosts will automatically connect them for you, making the setup process seamless.

Want to learn more? Check out our full guide on the Difference Between Domain Names and Web Hosting.

Different Types of Domain Names

Domain names are available in many different extensions. The most popular one is .com. There are many other options like .org, .net, .tv, .info, .io, and more. However, it’s generally a good idea to use a .com domain extension.

Let’s take a more detailed look at the different types of domain names available.

Top Level Domain – TLD

Top-level domains or TLDs are generic domain extensions that are listed at the highest level in the domain name system. They are also referred to as gTLD or generic top-level domains.

There are hundreds of TLDs, but the most popular ones are .com, .org, and .net. Other TLDs are lesser known, for example, .biz, .club, .info, .agency, and many more.

Related:

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

Country Code Top Level Domain – ccTLD

Country code top-level domains or ccTLD are country-specific domain names that end with country code extensions like .uk for the United Kingdom, .de for Germany, and .in for India.

They are used by websites that want to target audiences in a specific country.

Sponsored Top Level Domain – sTLD

Sponsored top-level domain or sTLD is a category of TLDs that has a sponsor representing a specific community served by the domain extension.

For example, .edu for education-related organizations, .gov for the United States government, .mil for the United States military, and more.

Second Level Domain – SLD

The second-level domain generally refers to the name that comes before the top-level domain or TLD.

For instance, in wpbeginner.com, the wpbeginner is the second-level domain, while .com is the TLD.

Domain registries use the SLDs to create a hierarchy for their ccTLD.

For instance, the .au ccTLD, which represents Australia, has com.au, net.au, and more. In this case, the .com is not the Top Level Domain but a sTLD of .au TLD.

Similarly, in the .co.uk domains, .co is the SLD of the .uk TLD.

Who Is Responsible for the Domain Name System?

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) manages the domain names system. It is a non-profit organization that creates and implements the policies for domain names.

ICANN gives permission to companies called Domain Name Registrars to sell domain names. These domain registrars are allowed to make changes to the domain name registry on your behalf.

Domain name registrars can sell domain names, manage their records, renewals, and transfers to other registrars.

As a domain name owner, you are responsible for telling the registrar where to send requests. You are also responsible for renewing your domain registration.

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 desired domain names from one of the many domain name registrars. A domain name registration typically costs 14.99 per year. Some popular domain name companies are:

• Domain.com (Use our Domain.com coupon to get a discount)
• Network Solutions (use our Network Solutions coupon code to get 25% off)
• GoDaddy

However, buying a domain does not automatically give you a hosting service. For that, you will need a website hosting account as well.

Many WordPress hosting companies offer domain registration services as well. This allows you to manage both services under one account, and you also don’t need to worry about changing name server settings for your domain.

We recommend using Bluehost. They are offering WPBeginner users a free domain name and a huge discount on hosting. Basically, you can get started for $1.99/month.

Frequently Asked Questions About Domain Names

Over the years, we have helped thousands of beginners start their first websites. We have heard almost every possible question about domain names that you can think of.

Following are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about domain names.

1. What is a subdomain?

A subdomain is basically a child domain under the main domain name. For example, videos.wpbeginner.com is a subdomain of wpbeginner.com. Subdomains are sometimes also called third-level domain names.

Once you register a domain, you have permission to create subdomains for it by yourself.

Websites commonly use subdomains to create child sites under the same domain name.

For example, a business website can create a subdomain for their blog or their online store as store.example.com or blog.example.com

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

Some domain registrars allow domain owners to cancel their domain registration at any time. If you cancel your registration, it will become available for others to register.

Other domain name registrars allow you to simply let your domain registration expire.

In most cases, you will not get any refund for the domain registration. However, some domain registrars do have refund policies, which you may want to discuss with them before canceling your registration.

If you don’t have the auto-renew feature turned on, then your domain name will simply expire after the registration period you have paid for.

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

Yes, you can. You can point your domain name to your hosting server. You can also keep both domain names pointing to the same website.

However, search engines consider it duplicate content, and that will affect your search rankings.

We have a step-by-step guide on how to properly move a website to a new domain name and set up redirects so you don’t hurt your SEO.

4. Can I sell a domain name?

Yes, you can sell your domain name. Domain names are like real estate for the web. There is a huge demand for good brandable custom domain names.

Trading domain names is a multi-million-dollar industry. Since domain names are so cheap, smart entrepreneurs are always looking for great domain name ideas to get their hands on.

If you want to sell your domain name, then there are many marketplace websites like Sedo, GoDaddy, and others where you can list your domain for sale.

Popular registrars like Domain.com and Network Solutions also let you buy premium domains right from their domain search feature.

Related: See the best GoDaddy alternatives for buying domains.

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

ICANN requires people registering domain names to provide an email, physical address, phone number, and other personal information to be made available publicly.

Domain Privacy is a separate add-on service sold by domain registrars. It allows you to show proxy information instead of your actual personal info.

You don’t need to buy domain privacy if you don’t want to. However, if you are concerned about privacy, then you can buy this service for a small cost.

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

You can use the Whois lookup tool to find information about who owns a domain name. However, if the domain name is using domain privacy, then you’ll see the proxy information provided by their registrar.

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 is the abbreviation for the World Wide Web. In the early days of the internet, some experts started using it to indicate that something was a web address.

However, it is not a requirement, and most websites don’t use www in their website addresses anymore.

Technically, www is a subdomain of your main domain name. Anything that comes before your main domain and is followed by a dot is considered a subdomain, like videos.wpbeginner.com.

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

URL is short for Uniform Resource Locator. It is a web address that takes you to a specific page or file on a website.

A domain name alone locates a particular website. If you enter a domain name alone (e.g. wpbeginner.com) in your browser, it will convert it into a URL like https://wpbeginner.com and take you to the homepage of the website associated with that domain name.

Each page or file you see on the internet has a URL associated with it. For instance, you can see the URL for this page in your browser’s address bar above.

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

A website comprises files like HTML pages, website builder software, images, and more. It gives you and your business an online presence.

If the domain name is the web address of your website, then web hosting is the home where your website lives.

11. What is HTTP and HTTPS?

HTTP refers to Hypertext Transfer Protocol. It is the internet protocol technology used to access information on the web.

However, it is succeeded by the HTTPS, which indicates Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol. HTTPS indicates that a website is using SSL, which is a secure protocol to transmit data on the internet.

See our article on why your website should use HTTPS.

11. Where can I learn more about making websites?

Right here. WPBeginner is the world’s largest WordPress resource site for beginners. We have tutorials, step-by-step guides, and videos created specifically for beginner users.

Here are some of the helpful resources you’ll find on WPBeginner (All of them are completely free):

• How to make a website (step-by-step guide for beginners)
• WPBeginner Videos – Our series of WordPress video tutorials for beginners
• WPBeginner Dictionary – Our glossary of terms to help you understand WordPress lingo
• WPBeginner Blog – This is where we publish our WordPress tutorials, how-tos, and step-by-step guides.
• WPBeginner on YouTube – Need more video instructions? Subscribe to our YouTube channel with more than 333,000 subscribers and 50 Million+ views.

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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