understanding domain names & domain extensions
Table Of Contents
Introduction
Not all domains work the same and knowing the difference between the various types can be vital when you’re creating a website. For example, some domains are reserved for kinds of sites, while others have unique connotations you’ll need to keep in mind.
Fortunately, there are ways you can tell which domains are appropriate for your site, and which should be avoided. Once you have a grasp on the various parts and varieties of domain names, you can select one that will improve your site’s User Experience (UX) and branding.
An Overview of Domain Names
A domain name is a string of text that maps to a numeric IP address, used to access a website from client software. In plain English, a domain name is the text that a user types into a browser window to reach a particular website. For instance, the domain name for Google is ‘google.com’.
The actual address of a website is a complex numerical IP address (e.g. 103.21.244.0), but thanks to DNS, users are able to enter human-friendly domain names and be routed to the websites they are looking for. This process is known as a DNS lookup.
If you’re looking to start your own website, you’ll first need to understand what domain names are. At its core, a domain is your site’s address and what people will use to find it online. More specifically, your site’s domain is its primary URL (for example, example.com).
For instance, let’s take a look at bbc.co.uk. This is a British news website and has a simple URL.
In this case, the domain can be broken down into multiple parts. The “bbc” part is the Second-Level Domain (SLD), while “.co.uk” is referred to as a Top-Level Domain (TLD).
A quick look on how domain works
By simply typing in a URL or entering a search query in Google, you can find practically anything you want online. This process typically feels instantaneous, making it easy to be unaware of what’s going on behind the scenes.
To get a clearer picture of what’s really happening when you visit a website, you can think of the domain as an easy-to-remember phone number for the site. In some cases, businesses will represent their phone numbers as letters to make them easier to recall, such as 1-800-CALL-NOW.
Domains follow the same basic principle. Each website is stored on a server with an Internet Protocol (IP) address, such as 69.63.191.255. That’s essentially the phone number for the site. However, IP addresses are difficult to remember, since they’re just strings of numbers.
That’s why, instead of seeing those IP addresses, we use easy-to-remember names in their place. This functions thanks to the Domain Name System (DNS), which we’ll cover next.
Who Is ICANN and What Is the Domain Name System (DNS)?
Just as with phone numbers, domain names are also organized into an “address book” of sorts. This is the Domain Name System (DNS), made up of a network of servers all over the world.
The DNS is what connects people with the websites they want to visit. It uses IP addresses as identifiers to find the particular site you’re trying to access. Then it converts that IP into a format that we as humans can easily understand: the domain name.
Who manages DNS records? That’s the responsibility of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a non-profit organization.
Different Types of Domains
Of course, before you can register for a domain, you’ll need to understand the different options that are available to you. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the various domain-related terminology you’re likely to encounter.
1. Top-Level Domains (TLDs)
Each website’s URL can be broken down into different parts. Top-Level Domains (TLDs), sometimes called domain name extensions, are the part that comes right after your primary domain name (for instance, the .com in www.dreamhost.com).
However, there are many other TLDs besides just .com. You can choose from dozens of options, such as .net, .blog, or .io (which was initially a country code but has since been co-opted for the tech community).
You’re probably used to seeing .com, .net, and a few other basic TLDs. As the internet expands, however, so does the need for unique domains. That’s why the ICANN started introducing new options, to make it easier to find a domain for your site that isn’t taken.
This means that domains are no longer bound to Latin-based characters, too. For instance, some domains use Chinese characters, Arabic, and even Cyrillic. Other domains are niche-specific, such as .biz for business websites.
It’s also worth noting that some TLDs are restricted, as we’ll expand on in the following sections. For example, only government websites can use .gov. Most are open for anyone to use, however, so you’re free to get as creative as you’d like.
These top-level domains (TLD) became known as domain name extensions and represent the highest level in the Domain Name System hierarchy. They include:
.com: shorthand for commercial, .com was the first top-level domain in common use. While .com was initially created for use by commercial organizations, restrictions on this were not stringent. By the mid-1990s, .com had become the most popular and commonly used type of top-level domain for businesses, websites, and email.
.net: shorthand for network, .net was created expressly for institutes that partook in network technologies such as an internet service provider or an infrastructure company. Like with .com, the restrictions meant to limit .net to networking purposes were never upheld and it became one of the more popular top-level domains, with many seeing it as a close second to using the .com top-level domain.
.edu: shorthand for education, .edu was made for educational institutions. Although it was intended for universities everywhere, the TLD .edu became associated with only educational centers in America. Schools from other countries will use .edu in conjunction with their country-level domain, which we will discuss further below.
.org: shorthand for organization, .org was created for nonprofits. As we’ve seen with these other top-level domains, such intentions were often not upheld or enforced over time. These days .org is used as a top-level domain by nonprofits, for-profit businesses, schools, and communities.
.mil: shorthand for military, .mil was created expressly for U.S. military branches. Unlike the other different types of top-level domains, this restriction is still upheld. Now, it is quite common for .mil to use second and third-level domains in conjunction with the .mil TLD
.gov: shorthand for government, .gov, like .mil, was restricted for American federal governmental agencies and personnel use only. These days .gov is used by governmental agencies, programs, cities, states, towns, counties, and Native American tribes.
2. Country Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD)
As we alluded to earlier, there are actually multiple types of TLDs. For instance, Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs) are restricted to use in specific countries.
Consider Ireland, for example. Its ccTLD is .ie and is one of the safest to use. Other examples are the UK (.co.uk), Canada with .ca, and even the USA with .us. These can all be great options if the .com version of the domain you had set your heart on has already been taken.
However, keep in mind that if you’re aiming for an international audience, this kind of TLD can be a bit limiting. Many businesses actually use multiple TLDs for different regions, such as the BBC, which uses bbc.co.uk for its home audience and bbc.com for its international visitors.
These domain extensions are useful if you are building a site in a specific country and want your visitors to know that they have arrived at the right place. For example, companies out of the United States can use the .us extension, and ones located in Lithuania could use .lt.
Here are some ccTLD examples:
.cn (China)
.de (Germany)
.uk (United Kingdom)
.nl (Netherlands)
.eu (European Union)
.ru (Russia)
.ar (Argentina)
.br (Brazil)
.it (Italy)
.lk (Sri Lanka)
Please note that: In order to register most ccTLDs you will need to provide documentation proving that you are residing in that country.
3. Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD)
Up next are Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs). In fact, you already know what these are, even if you’ve never heard the term. These are the old stalwart domains that we are all accustomed to seeing, such as .com, .edu, .info, .org, and .net.
Originally, these were contrasted with ccTLDs, since there weren’t that many TLD options available. Now, however, we have a fresh generation of TLDs to pick from (often called “new TLDs”).
We’ve gone over a few of these new domains, such as .blog and .io, but there are many, many more. For instance, if you run a yoga studio, you might opt for the new .yoga in place of .com. There are also options such as .tech, .space, .shop, and even .art.
Therefore, when choosing a domain, you’ll want to think about what will work best for your brand and your audience and pick something memorable. After all, you want people to remember your website, so they come back time and time again.
Despite there being over 1500 gTLDs available to register, there are 21 generic top-level domains within the root zone, which is the highest level of the domain name system structure. Thus, these 21 gTLDs make up the vast majority of all types of domain names. They include the following 4 sub-categories:
Generic (.com, .net, .org, .info), domains that can be used for general purposes.
Generic restricted (.pro, .biz, .name) domains that can only be used for their specific purposes.
Sponsored (.edu, .gov, .int, .mil, .aero, .cat, .asia, .mobi, .coop, .travel, .tel, .jobs) domains that can only be used by businesses involved specifically with that industry.
Infrastructure (.arpa) was one of the original top-level domains used to help with the DNS infrastructure.
4. Second-Level Domain (SLD)
At this point, we’ve covered the TLD section of your site’s domain name. However, what about the rest of the URL? That’s where Second-Level Domains (SLDs) come into play.
Let’s look back at our URL as an example: www.dreamhost.com. As we’ve seen, .com is the TLD. The SLD is what immediately precedes it, which in this case is “dreamhost”.
The SLD is what people will associate with your website. That’s why it’s vital to take some time and consider your choice. You’ll want to select something brandable, for instance, and gives visitors a taste of your site’s focus and style.
It’s usually best to start by settling on an SLD, and then start experimenting with different TLDs.
Second-level domains are a step below the previously mentioned TLDs in terms of the domain hierarchy. The best way to describe it would be with an example. In www.monovm.com, “monovm” is the SLD (i.e. Second-Level Domain).
There are also country code second-level domains such as:
.co.uk – commonly used by companies in the UK
.gov.au – used by governmental institutions in Australia
.ind.br – used by industries in Brazil
5. Third-Level Domain
We’ve now looked at two of the three main parts in any domain name. The last is appropriately known as the third-level domain (not to be confused with the top-level domain).
As we’ve discussed, within www.dreamhost.com the TLD is .com, and the SLD is dreamhost. That leaves us with the third-level domain, or the www section.
By default, your third-level domain will be www. That doesn’t always work for large companies who need more web pages, however. So you may sometimes see www1 or even www2 before the SLD in a domain name.
It is no longer required to have www. as a part of a domain name and thus third-level domains are not necessary for a domain to function properly. You can connect to our site by simply typing “monovm.com” in the address bar.
The main reason why you might need a third-level domain is if you are planning to add a subdomain. For example, you want to add a store to your site, so you create the subdomain “store.yoursite.com”.
6. Premium Domain
Sometimes when you’re looking for a domain name, you’ll find that the one you want is already taken. That means it’s a premium domain — a domain that someone else owns.
The good news is that you won’t necessarily have to give up on that domain. Often, people will buy domain names and not use them. They may even be willing to sell a domain they are using, for the right price.
This is referred to as domain reselling, or buying a domain that someone else privately owns. In general, this involves paying a little more for it than a domain that isn’t premium. In some cases, however, very popular domains can go for hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Such domains may have been bought because they’re short, have a popular TLD (like .com), or the owners anticipated someone would want to buy them down the line.
How to Decide Which Domain Name Is Best For Your Website
Choosing a domain name can be one of the most significant decisions you’ll make as a website owner. After all, if you’re running a business or otherwise plan to grow your website, your domain name can have a major impact on your branding and visibility.
That’s why it’s a good idea to keep these considerations in mind:
At the least, it’s prudent to use appropriate keywords in your domain name. For example, if you’re an art company, you might want to include a targeted keyword relevant to your line of business (such as “pastel” or “events”). Google Keyword Planner can aid in your keyword research.
It’s equally important to keep your domain name short and simple since it also needs to be memorable. It’s generally easier to remember one or two words than a whole phrase.
Also, it’s vital that whatever domain name you choose isn’t likely to infringe on any trademarks. Do your research to see if there are any other businesses or websites with very similar names, as this can help ensure you get off to a safe start with your own site.
If you have an idea for what you want your domain name to be, you’ll need to check its availability. As we mentioned earlier, you can use our domain search feature to do that. It will offer you suggested alternatives, both for the SLD and the TLD.
How to Choose the Right Type of Domain Name
Now that you’re well versed in the different types of domain names available, we’re going to dive into how you can choose the best domain name for your needs.
This section isn’t about choosing the name part of your domain name, but instead the right type of extension for your site.
Now, here’s how you can choose the right domain name extension:
1. It Should Align With Website Goals
Different domain name extensions cater to different types of websites. For example, you wouldn’t try to choose the ‘.mil’ extension if you’re creating a blog about cats. Or, if you have a website based in the US, you wouldn’t want to go with the ‘.co.uk’ extension either.
Think about what kind of website you’re building and choose an extension that aligns with your topic and overall goals. See what other sites that are in your niche are using for their domain name extensions.
2. Go for Something Common First, Fun Second
If you’re busy exploring the entire list of TLDs available, you’re probably overwhelmed with options. Even though some might be a perfect fit for your site, it’s not always the best option to go with a unique extension.
If this is your first site, it’s usually better to go with a common domain name extension, rather than one that’s more niche.
Think about it this way, if someone can remember your domain, but not your extension, they’ll probably try common ones like, ‘.com,’ ‘.net’, ‘.org’, or even’ .co. If you have a crazy extension, they might not ever make it to your site.
You can always pick up different extensions later, or even migrate your site to a new extension once you’re established and have an existing audience.
3. Pick Up Related Extensions
Let’s say you found the perfect domain name with the ‘.com’ extension. You can register this domain and also pick up all of the related extensions. Then, forward all of the different extensions to your primary domain.
That way if someone guesses the wrong extension they’ll still be taken to your website. Plus, you make it impossible for any competitors to swoop in and pick up your domain under a different extension.
The best way to find the perfect domain name is to come up with a list of potential options, and run them through a domain name checker to see if any are available. There’s nothing worse than getting excited about your dream domain, only to find out later that it’s not available.