A domain name is a unique address that people use to visit a website in a browser. The internet is a huge network of interconnected computers, servers, apps and websites that can all be found using a unique IP address. IP addresses are long, complicated strings of numbers that are difficult to remember. They don’t really mean anything to an end-user, therefore a domain name is used in place of them.
How do I get a domain name?
We can purchase a domain on your behalf. Alternatively, all you need to do is find a reputable domain registrar, for example, 123-reg.co.uk, and grab the domain you want. Firstly you need to check the availability of the domain, as it may already be taken. If available, you can then purchase it for a period of time ranging from 1 year through to 5 or even 10+ years. That is now your domain.
How do they work?
A domain works by ‘pointing’ to the server, or web host, where a website is stored. You can read more about web hosting in another article here. When a user types in a web address (domain) or visits a site via a search engine, the address redirects them to the server on which the website is hosted and the browser brings up the website.
What are the different types of domain names?
You will have seen many different domain name extensions, such as .co.uk, .com, .org and so on. Each one serves a different purpose, but they are all open and available to anyone who wishes to own them.
.co.uk domains are the most relevant to Go Web, as we often build websites for companies that operate in the UK. If we were to build a charity website, it would probably use the .org extension. .com extensions are often used for websites or companies with a worldwide audience. Each country has its own domain extension. For example .ie for Ireland, .de for Germany and .fr for France.
If you would like our help with a domain, please get in touch. You can also find out more about our website management services here.