A domain name is the human-readable address people type to reach your website — ferdy.com, for instance — standing in for the numerical IP address that actually identifies your server on the internet. It's your website's permanent, memorable street address online.
The Parts of a Domain Name
- Top-level domain (TLD) — the suffix, like .com, .org, or .net
- Second-level domain (SLD) — the main, chosen part of the name, like "ferdy"
- Subdomain — an optional prefix, such as "blog." or "shop."
Choosing a Good Domain Name
- Keep it short and genuinely easy to remember
- Avoid hyphens and numbers where possible — they're easy to mistype
- Favour .com when it's available; it's still the most trusted and recognisable TLD
- Make sure it's easy to say out loud, not just easy to read
Registering One
Domains are purchased through a domain registrar — Namecheap, GoDaddy, and Google Domains are all common choices — typically on a yearly renewal. Many hosting providers also bundle a free domain into their first year of hosting, which is often the simplest way to get started.
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