Domain Names Explained:Domains, Registrars and DNS

A domain name is the human-readable address of a website or email service, such as example.com. You do not buy a domain outright: you register the right to use it for a period (one to ten years), through a registrar, from the registry that manages its extension. Through DNS, the domain then points to the servers that host your website and email.

This guide explains the pieces and how they fit together, so the rest of your domain decisions make sense.

The parts of a domain name

Take shop.example.com:

• .com is the top-level domain (TLD), also called the extension.
• example is the second-level domain, the part you choose and register.
• shop is a subdomain, which you can create freely once you hold example.com.

There are two broad kinds of TLD:

• Generic TLDs (gTLDs) such as .com, .net, .org, and newer ones like .xyz or .online;
• Country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) such as .bd for Bangladesh or .uk for the United Kingdom, each with its own rules.

Choosing between them is covered in .com vs .net vs .org.

Who does what

Role	What it does	Example
ICANN	Coordinates the global domain system and sets policies for gTLDs	Transfer and expiry rules
Registry	Operates a TLD and keeps its master database	The operator of .com
Registrar	Accredited company that registers domains for customers	The company you buy through
Reseller	Sells registrations through a registrar	Many hosting companies
Registrant	You, the holder of the registration	Your business

When you register a domain, the registrar records you as the registrant with the registry and you pay a fee for the registration period.

What you own, and what you do not

As the registrant you hold the right to use the domain for the registration period, to renew it, to change its settings and to transfer it to another registrar. You do not own it permanently: if you stop renewing, it eventually returns to the pool and someone else can register it. See what happens when a domain expires.

That is why the domain should be registered in your own or your business's name, with an email address you control. See does your business own its domain and hosting.

How a domain leads to your website

1. A visitor types example.com.
2. Their device asks a DNS resolver for the IP address.
3. The resolver finds which nameservers are responsible for example.com (from the registry) and asks them.
4. The nameservers answer with DNS records, such as the A record holding the web server's IP address.
5. The browser connects to that server.

Email uses the same system: MX records say which servers accept mail for the domain. The full process is in what is DNS, and the difference between nameservers and records is in nameservers vs DNS records.

Domain and hosting are separate

Your domain registration and your web hosting are separate services, even when bought together. You can register a domain with one company and host the website with another, connecting them through DNS. See how to point a domain to hosting.

The life of a domain, from registration to renewal

Stage	What happens	What you should do
Search	You check whether the name is available	Shortlist names; check trademarks and history
Registration	The registrar records you as registrant with the registry	Use your business's name and a long-term email
Verification	You confirm your contact email	Click the verification link promptly
Setup	You set nameservers or DNS records	Point to your hosting and email provider
In use	Website and email run on the domain	Keep registrar lock and 2FA on
Renewal	You renew before expiry	Turn on auto-renew; keep payment details current
Changes	You may change DNS, contacts or registrar	Follow transfer and contact-change rules
Expiry (if missed)	Grace, redemption, then deletion	Renew as early as possible

Domain vocabulary in one place

• Registrant: the holder of the domain (you).
• Registrar: the accredited company you register through.
• Registry: the operator of the extension (TLD).
• TLD / extension: .com, .org, .bd, and so on.
• Nameservers: the DNS servers responsible for your domain.
• DNS records: entries such as A, MX and TXT that point services to servers.
• WHOIS / RDAP: the lookup that shows registration data.
• Auth (EPP) code: the code that authorises a transfer to another registrar.
• Registrar lock: a setting that blocks unauthorised transfers.

Where to go next

The domains guides build on each other:

1. How to choose the perfect domain name
2. .com vs .net vs .org
3. How to register a domain name
4. What is DNS? and DNS record types explained
5. How to point a domain to hosting
6. Domain transfer explained
7. What happens when a domain expires
8. Preventing domain hijacking

Key things to manage on a domain

• Renewal date and auto-renew, so it never lapses.
• Contact details, especially the registrant email, which receives important notices.
• Registrar lock, which blocks unauthorised transfers. See preventing domain hijacking.
• Nameservers and DNS records, which control where the website and email live.
• Privacy, which limits what public lookups show. See domain privacy protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can I register a domain for?

Typically one to ten years at a time, depending on the extension. You can renew before it expires to extend the period.

Can two people own the same domain?

No. Each domain name is unique within its TLD. example.com and example.net are different domains.

What is the difference between a domain and a URL?

The domain is the name (example.com). A URL is a full address to a specific resource, including the protocol and path (https://example.com/about).

Next steps

Choose a name with how to choose the perfect domain name, then check availability on the ServerNeed domain search.

Sources

• ICANN: Acronyms and Terms
• MDN: What is a domain name?

Featured image: “Eye on Earth” by EyeonEarth, licensed under CC BY 2.0.