The Simple Definition
A domain name is your website's address on the internet—like google.com, amazon.com, or yourname.com. It's what people type in their browser to find your website.
Without domain names, you'd have to remember long strings of numbers (IP addresses) to visit websites. Instead of typing "google.com", you'd type something like "142.250.80.46". Domain names make the internet human-friendly.
Parts of a Domain Name
Your unique name
The extension
Second-Level Domain (SLD)
The name you choose—"google" in google.com, "amazon" in amazon.com. This is the unique part you register.
Top-Level Domain (TLD)
The extension after the dot—.com, .org, .net, .io, etc. Different TLDs have different prices and purposes.
Common TLD Extensions
How Domain Names Work
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1
You type a domain in your browser
Like "google.com"
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2
DNS servers look up the IP address
Like a phone book for the internet
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3
Your browser connects to that IP
The actual server hosting the website
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4
The website loads
All in milliseconds!
Why Get Your Own Domain?
Professional Email
you@yourcompany.com looks better than yourcompany@gmail.com
Brand Control
Own your name online before someone else does
Credibility
Custom domains look more trustworthy than free subdomains
Flexibility
Change hosts without changing your address
Ready to Get Your Domain?
Domains cost around $10-15/year for .com. You register them through a "domain registrar"—companies like Cloudflare, Porkbun, or Namecheap.
Compare Domain Registrars →