Glossary

Domain

The human-readable address of a website, like example.com.

Definition

A domain name is what you type into a browser. It's registered through an accredited registrar, points to your hosting via DNS records, and is renewed annually. Domains are fundamental — losing one (through expiry, hijack, or registrar dispute) is one of the worst incidents a small business can have.

Subdomains (blog.example.com) are owned by you and can host different services. Top-level domains (.com, .org, country codes) come with different policies and prices. Privacy registration hides your contact info from the public WHOIS database.

Example

You register 'mybrand.com' through a registrar for one year. You set its DNS A record to point at your web host's IP. Anyone typing the address now reaches your site.

Frequently asked questions

Should I buy a domain for many years upfront?

Multi-year reduces the risk of accidental expiry; annual gives flexibility. Both work if you set auto-renew.

Why is WHOIS privacy worth it?

Without it, anyone can look up your name, address and phone number from your registration.