Domain Registration

What Is Domain Registration?

• Domain registration is the process of acquiring a domain name (e.g., sslgadgets.com).
• A domain name is the human‑friendly address that points to your website’s server.
• Domain Makes websites and services easier to access without needing to remember numeric IP addresses.
• Registration ensures that no one else can use the same name during your ownership period.
• It is a part of the internet naming system, alongside IP allocation.

Governance & Hierarchy

1. ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)
   1. Oversees the global DNS root.
   1. Coordinates domain name policies.
2. Registries
   1. Manage specific top‑level domains (TLDs).
   1. Examples:
      1. Verisign → .com, .net
      1. Public Interest Registry → .org
      1. Country code registries → .ph (Philippines), .uk (United Kingdom).
3. Registrars
   1. Companies accredited by ICANN to sell domain names to the public.
   1. Examples: GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains.
4. End Users / Organizations
   1. Register domains via registrars.
   1. Domains must be renewed periodically (usually yearly).

Domain Name Space

• Structure:
  • Root (.) → Top‑Level Domains (TLDs) → Second‑Level Domains → Subdomains.
  • Example: www.example.com
    • Root: .
    • TLD: .com
    • Second‑Level: example
    • Subdomain: www
• Types of TLDs:
  • gTLDs (Generic): .com, .org, .net, .info
  • ccTLDs (Country Code): .ph, .uk, .jp
  • New gTLDs: .app, .shop, .xyz

Reserved Domains

Certain domains are reserved and cannot be registered:

• Example domains: example.com, example.net, example.org (used for documentation).
• Test domains: test, invalid.
• Infrastructure domains: .arpa (used for technical purposes like reverse DNS).