What you should know about domains

What does the word ‘domain’ mean?

The domain is a part of the domain name system (DNS), a vital part of the Internet. Each Internet address can be uniquely assigned to the domain, and the resolution of the domain name in the associated IP address via the DNS. This process means that every visitor to a domain worldwide can be forwarded to the associated server. When registering domains, various principles and laws must be met. These depend on the registry of the respective top-level domain. You will also need web hosting if you want to create and run a website. Web hosting gives you storage space on the Internet and an interface provided by the provider to create email addresses, databases, etc. Often, one or more domains are included in the web hosting packages free of charge or at a reduced price.

The history of the domains at a glance

Most people can only imagine an Internet with the common domains today. If there were no domains, you would have to enter its IP address in the browser’s address line to reach a website. In the forerunner of the Internet, the ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), there was a host table in which all participating computers were entered to communicate. However, as the number of participants increased, this became a real problem. For this reason, the so-called Domain Name System (DNS) was developed. The first domain was registered on January 1st, 1985. Thanks to the newly developed DNS, the Internet became scalable and more flexible. The system of the various domains has grown more and more since then, so the standard has always been adapted to the technical possibilities.

The structure of a domain

To differentiate between the various domains correctly, you must understand the structure of domains. A domain is divided into the root label, the top-level domain, the second-level domain, and the third-level domain. This structure is the same for all domains and can, therefore, be displayed in a standardized way. As a user and later owner of a domain, you do not need to be interested in the root label, and it is of no interest in everyday work on the Internet. Because the root label is defined as empty and, therefore, no longer appears in any context for the user. The root label is only of interest for entries on name servers and must be specified there. Accordingly, this area can be ignored when subdividing.

The top-level domain

Without the higher-level root label, the top-level domain, or TLD for short, is the highest level in the domain structure required for name resolution. The Network Information Center (NIC) manages and monitors the top-level domains. Among other things, the NIC takes on the assignment of the second-level domains under the respective TLDs and the operation of the name servers. The IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) differentiates between two groups of top-level domains. On the one hand, the generically developed domains such as .com or .info. On the other hand, there are country-specific top-level domains such as .us, .co.uk, de, .com.au, etc. There is an intersection between these two groups, called Sponsored Top-Level domains, designated. However, these are often only awarded to specific interest groups under various conditions or requirements. The top-level domain is usually called the ‘domain ending’ in everyday language.

The second-level domain

The second-level domain is of particular interest because it represents the name of your domain. However, if the name is already registered with the corresponding top-level domain, you can no longer select this second-level domain. For example, on www.example.com, the term "example" represents the second-level domain. For this reason, the second-level domain is always registered in combination with the corresponding top-level domain. If you, as a private person, would like to have such a domain registered, it is usually via a registrar accredited by the NIC. In this way, you can register the corresponding free second- level domain easily.

The third-level domain

The third-level domain is to the left of the second-level domain and is usually used to classify sub-addresses of a domain. Here, different areas of a domain can be distinguished from one another. Domain owners can, among other things, make different landing pages but also services or different servers accessible. Many different third-level domains have become more established over time. For example:

● www for web services

● mail, POP3, or IMAP for your own mail server

● m. for mobile offers

● en or de for different country-specific offers

As a domain owner, you can, for example, use the third-level domain to differentiate between different offers and thus make them accessible. The third-level domains are often referred to as subdomains, but technically, this is not entirely correct, as the term subdomain is not limited to the third level.

Subdomains - important and helpful

The term subdomain has already been used in connection with the third-level domain. But as I said, this terminology is wider than this area. A subdomain is always a domain located in the hierarchical structure below another used domain. Actually, every domain that is below the top-level domain is already its own subdomain. In principle, the second-level domain is already a subdomain below the top-level domain. However, the third-level domain is often used when subdomains should be used. Because here, you can easily separate and subdivide the various offers. In principle, however, subdomains below this level are also possible so that further subdomains could arise under the third-level domain.

nTLDs and ccTLD: What do these abbreviations mean

Different domain types can reveal more information about a site. For instance, what is the .io domain? This less common extension and others like .online, .shop, and .tech are often more affordable and unique. Originally designated as the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the British Indian Ocean Territory, .io has become popular with startups, tech companies, and online gaming services due to its association with the term "input/output" in computer science. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) manages the distribution of such TLDs, including .io. Their responsibilities encompass evaluating and approving applications for new TLDs, managing and monitoring domain registries, and developing policy within the DNS​.

For a long time, the number of domains was limited. On the one hand, country-specific top-level domains (ccTLDs) have a natural limitation. These are the top-level domains that point to a specific region or country, for example, domains such as .mx, .es, or .eu. Also, some generally applicable top-level domains, such as .com or .net, are used for different applications. To offer the entire area more bandwidth and possibilities, new top-level domains have been created and brought into being in recent years and are known as nTLDs. These top-level domains should enable companies and institutions to make their affiliation even more visible simply and uncomplicatedly. The nTLDs include top-level domains such as:

● .photo

● .dental

● .pizza

● .actor

● .art

● .london

This list can be expanded almost at will and thus offers an enormous range on the market. If the top-level domain already shows this affiliation, nTLds can provide a clear advantage, especially for locally operating companies and companies in a specific industry.

Which domain extensions / top-level domains should

you use? When choosing the right and right top-level domain, you should always consider the various SEO criteria. The selection depends on multiple factors. For example, companies should consider whether their services are available locally or in different locations. A New York workshop would be the best choice with the top-level domain .nyc. Larger companies with several USA locations could choose a corresponding domain such as .us or global .com. Other possible domain endings can certainly be considered but are of greater importance for internationally operating companies. If you want to set up a simple private website and need a domain, you can’t go wrong with the various city domains or the ccTLD of the country where you live. Always choose the domain carefully and think about how the website's structure is composed and how it will be composed later. If you are founding a company that may also operate internationally and globally due to its activities, a .com domain is usually always a safe choice.

Above all, you can also purchase several domains and then have them forwarded to your main domain. You do not have to make much effort and can effectively control the forwarding via the corresponding subdomains.

Domain trading - a lucrative business

The actual domain trade has become a profitable business for many people. When new top- level domains are created and registered, resourceful people look for and secure suitable domains. Since domain registration is often possible for little money, a lucrative business can be operated. For example, if you, as a company, would like to use a registered domain, the domain can often be bought from the current owner. Depending on the company’s size and level of awareness, it can be pretty expensive for the buyer. However, there are also clear legal limits here, as the situation often differs with patented brand names. Nevertheless, it can be worth spending a little more on a suitable domain, especially if it is a good keyword domain, which can thus be brought into the upper search results on Google and Co much more easily. The search for the right domain should always be done with a little effort to prepare for all eventualities. Your domain is the first entry on the virtual business card and should, therefore, be carefully considered. Those who think about finding the perfect domain will benefit long-term.

Registering domains - essential to know

There are always some preliminary considerations that must be made before registering domains. Different areas of law also play an important role. For example, you are not allowed to use registered brand names due to the possible risk of confusion. There are also some rules to be observed, often specified by the registrar. The name, i.e., the second-level domain, must not begin with a hyphen. Special characters are also dependent on the respective registrar and can differ.

The registration period of domains

The registration period can differ for each domain or Internet service provider. As a rule, the minimum contract term is one year, and there is automatic renewal for another year if the domain is not canceled in advance. The provider through which you register the domain provides the relevant information. If you decide to cancel a domain, you must never forget that the domain can then be registered again by someone else. It should also be noted that this person may receive emails intended for you, provided that he creates the same or catch-all email address.