A domain name is nothing but the name of your website. It is the address where internet users can access your website. No two internet websites can have the same domain names. Domain names are used for finding and identifying computers on the internet. An IP (internet protocol) address is a complex string of numbers that are binary identifiers for devices across the internet. In short, you can say that an IP address is an address that computers, servers, and other devices use to identify one another in the online world. The vast majority of IP addresses are arranged into four sets of digits – e.g., 23.34.45.56. Simply speaking, a domain name is the human-friendly version of an IP address.

Know about the process of setting up a domain name for your website:

IP address
It is possible to enter an IP address into a web browser to get to a website; it is easier and practical to enter its domain name. Once the domain name is entered, the DNS converts the domain names into IP addresses, allowing the computer machines to understand and communicate. Every domain name will have at least one IP address associated with it.

Selecting a domain name
You can use any phrase or a word as a domain name. If the domain name is for your company, use the company name in the domain, making it simpler for your customers or clients to find you. If the name of your preference is not available, add a prefix, such as “my” or “the.” A longer domain name makes it easier for search engines to locate you in web traffic, but the shortcomings of a long name are the difficulty of remembering the name and errors while searching for the domain. A simple, easy-to-remember, and pronounce name identified with product, company, or person is a sure winner when selecting a domain name.

Domain name registration
Domain name registration is the method of reserving a name on the internet for a certain period, usually one year, after which you can renew it. The domain name will remain yours for as long as you renew it. You cannot purchase a domain name forever, only on a renewal basis. Registering a domain name is necessary for a website, an email, or any other web service. Once you register your domain name, the information about the owner is publicly available. Domain names come with an extension. The price of the domain name varies with the extension. For example, the most common .com is affordable, while the country-specific domain name extensions can be nearly five times more expensive.

A domain name registrar
A registrar administers domain name registration. The Internet Corporation accredits domain name registrars for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). ICANN is in charge of overseeing the name and number systems of the internet. In addition to ICANN, each top-level domain (TLD) is maintained and serviced by an administrative organization operating a registry. A registry has the responsibility of maintaining the database of registered names with the TLD it administers.

Fill in details
Once you have zeroed in on a domain name, you must submit your domain name registration to the registrar. It is mandatory to submit the following information along with your application for registration to the registrar.

• The selected domain name
• The name and contact information which includes email address, physical address, and contact phone number) for the domain’s registrant and the registrant’s administrative and billing contacts.
• The desired term for the registration
• The payment details

Once you have provided the registrar with all this information, the registrar will initiate the domain name registration process for you. The registry will add your domain zone files to the master servers. These master servers will tell other servers on the internet where your website is stored. Once all the information has been updated, your domain is considered to be registered.