Learn About Domains

Questions
Click on a question to go to the answer:

1.   What is a domain name also known as web address?

2.   Why do I need to register a domain name?

3.   What does it mean to "Park" a domain?

4.   Once I have a domain name secured, how long may I use it?

5.   What if my desired name is the same as a trademarked name?

6.   How do I choose a good domain name?

7.   What are the valid characters for a domain name and how long can it be?

8.   A note about long domain names.

9.   Do I need to register .com, .net and .org?

10. How do I change my domain name?

11. Can I register any other domains (.ca, .us, .co, .uk, etc.)?

12. Registry? Registrar? Registrant? What do these words mean?

1. What is a domain name also known as web address?

A domain name (or web address) is your unique Internet address. It is also a component of your e-mail address (my@mydomain.com, me@mybusiness.com). Every website you've ever been to, and every e-mail you've ever composed, has used a domain name in its address. People register domain names in order to 'stake a claim' to a particular name -- whether for business or personal reasons. Once a domain name is registered to a person or company, it's theirs to use exclusively as long as they continue to pay the yearly renewal fee. Register your domain to distinguish yourself and promote your business. Your domain e-mail address will never change, even if you change your Internet Service Provider (ISP)! More about domain names

2. Why do I need to register a domain name?

Most Internet providers offer you a directory on their own domain. Most of the time, they look like this: http://www.domain.com/~yourname. In addition to having to explain the little squiggle mark (~ which is called a tilde) to your less net savvy customers, this can prove cumbersome on business cards and letterhead, and it does not reflect the unique nature of your business or homepage. Registering a domain name for your business or organization is essential to your marketing efforts. A domain name gives your business a unique identity on the World-Wide Web.

3. What does it mean to "Park" a domain?

In order for you to register a domain name you need a Domain Name System (DNS) server to host it. When you register a domain name with us, we are hosting your domain name on our DNS. We are holding or "parking" the domain name for you. You have the option to move your domain name off of our servers to another Internet Service Provider (ISP) or host provider at any time.

4. Once I have a domain name secured, how long may I use it?

If there are no trademark disputes, your secured domain name will be yours for as long as you maintain the yearly registration fees.

5. What if my desired name is the same as a trademarked name?

Generally, if you've registered the name in good faith, it's not a name belonging to an internationally known company, and you can show that you have a legitimate reason to use that name then you are likely to be able to keep that name. That may not be the case if it can be shown that you purchased the name for the express purpose of re-selling it to a company with a legitimate claim to the name. Please see the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy for details.

6. How do I choose a good domain name?

Choose a name that reflects the intent and purpose of your web site or business. Try to keep it short and snappy, and say it out loud, as if you were telling someone at a party to visit your web page. Some domain names look good on paper, but are confusing when you try to send someone to them over the phone. Keep in mind the image that it conjures... your domain name will be one of the ways people recognize or evaluate their sites for their interests when they are searching via Yahoo or the other search engines. When facing a large number of choices, the snappiest domain sometimes grabs the most attention.

7. What are the valid characters for a domain name and how long can it be?

The only valid characters for a domain name are letters, numbers and a hyphen "-". Other special characters like the underscore "_" or an exclamation mark "!" are NOT permitted.

Example: your name.com (not correct, No spaces allowed)
Example: your-name.com (is correct)

A domain name can be up to 67 characters long -- including the 4 characters used to identify the Top Level Domain (.NET, .COM, or .ORG). Do not type the www. before your domain name when registering.

8. A note about long domain names.

Domain names can now be up to 67 characters long (including the .com, .net or .org). While this opens up a whole new world for domain names, it can also lead to some confusion if you are not careful. Extremely long domain names can be difficult to read. Take a look at these two domain names:

thisisalongnamethatishardtoread.com
this-is-a-long-name-that-is-hard-to-read.com

Putting hyphens between each word can make the domain name easier for your visitors to read and remember.

9. Do I need to register .com, .net and .org?

The expense of registering and supporting a domain name is minor compared to the expense of marketing your domain name and your business. The last thing you want is for someone else (usually your competitors) to benefit from your efforts to establish your identity. You will see competitors registering names close to yours, trying to benefit from typos your visitors may make. For example, someone registered internik.net to try and benefit from typos by visitors to internic.net.

10. How do I change my domain name?

Once a domain name is registered, it is unchangeable. Instead, you can register the different domain name you want and stop using the one you don't.

11 Can I register any other domains (.ca, .us, .co.uk, etc.)?

Currently, you can register any of the domain types indicated on the domain registration page. This includes .com .net .org .co.uk .org.uk .biz .info and .ca.

12. Registry? Registrar? Registrant? What do these words mean?

There is one Registry for every Top-Level Domain. The Registry for .com, .net and .org domains is maintained by the Network Solutions Registry division of Network Solutions, Inc.

A Registrar is a company that can enter new domains into the Registry. The Registrar for domains registered through this site is Tucows Domains Inc./ OpenSRS

The Registrant is the individual or organization that registered a particular domain name.

For example, Samantha Smith (registrant) registers the name ageneralname.com through OpenSRS (our registrar) who in turn writes the name to the central database (registry).