Domain registration is the process of securing a website domain for a year. ICANN maintains the DNS database to ensure unique names and correct IP addresses. Registrars offer domain registration and require accurate contact information. It’s important to own the domain and have the option to transfer it. After registration, the domain can be parked or hosted by a web server.
Domain registration is the process by which a business or individual can secure the domain of a website, such as www.yoursite.com. Once the domain registration is complete, the domain becomes yours for the term of the contract, usually one year. Before the registration expires, it must be renewed or the domain will become publicly available again.
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) maintains the international Domain Name Server (DNS) database. ICANN ensures that all registered names are unique and correctly map to a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address. The IP address is the numerical website address that tells other computers on the Internet where to find the host and domain of the server.
Domain registration is publicly available through a registrar. Rates and services vary from company to company, but the process is usually inexpensive. Before a domain registration can be approved, the new name must be compared with the existing names in the DNS database. The online registrar provides a field where you can enter your desired name and hierarchy, i.e. the letters following the “dot”. Family hierarchies are .com, .net, .org, .name, .info, and .biz. If the name is not already taken, it is available for domain registration.
During the domain registration process, you will be asked to provide contact information which will be publicly available via the WHOIS database. Anyone can log into a WHOIS search engine and enter a domain name to see who registered it. Registrars require this information to be accurate and truthful. If you feel uncomfortable giving out personal information, there are some registrars who will act as a proxy, providing their information instead of yours as a contact for the domain. There may be a small fee for this service and potential inconvenience to balance with the ability to maintain your privacy, so read the Terms and Conditions carefully before deciding to opt for a proxy domain.
Equally important, make sure you own the domain name, as some registrars retain control over the domains they register. And be sure to keep the option to transfer the domain to another registrar if you wish. There may be an initial period after which this becomes possible. Look for any fees that may be incurred as a result of the domain transfer. This could become important down the road if you want to leverage another registrar’s products or services.
After completing the domain registration process, it will take from a few hours to a few days for you to see the domain online. The domain can be “parked” with an “under construction” page that acts as a sort of placeholder. Parking a domain is very cheap and most registrars offer this service for a small fee to give you time to process the content. Once a registrant is ready to serve content, a web server needs to host the domain. The registrar may also provide hosting services or you may want to transfer your domain to another web hosting company.
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