Knowledge Base

What is a Domain Name?

A domain name is a human-readable address that points to a specific location on the internet. Instead of remembering a server's numeric IP address (like 93.184.216.34), you type a name like example.com into your browser and the domain name system handles the rest.

Anatomy of a URL

A full web address is made up of several parts:

https://www.example.com/docs/getting-started/
  • Protocol — https:// tells the browser how to connect (encrypted HTTP)
  • Subdomain — www is a subdomain of example.com. Other common subdomains include mail, blog, or api
  • Second-level domain (SLD) — example is the name you register
  • Top-level domain (TLD) — .com is the extension, managed by a registry
  • Path — /docs/getting-started/ identifies a specific page on the server

The part you actually purchase and own is the combination of SLD + TLD — in this case, example.com.

How Domains Fit Together

The domain name system is hierarchical. At the very top sits the root zone, which delegates authority to TLDs. Each TLD then delegates individual domain names to whoever registers them.

.                    (root)
 |-- com             (TLD, managed by Verisign)
 |    |-- example    (your registered domain)
 |    |-- google
 |-- org
 |-- de              (country-code TLD, managed by DENIC)
      |-- example

When you register example.com, you are given the right to control everything under that name — including any subdomains like mail.example.com or api.example.com.

Top-Level Domains (TLDs)

TLDs come in several categories:

  • Generic TLDs (gTLDs) — .com, .net, .org, .info, .xyz. Open to anyone
  • Country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) — .de (Germany), .uk (United Kingdom), .us (United States). Some are restricted to residents; others are open
  • New gTLDs — .io, .dev, .app, .shop, .cloud. Introduced since 2012 to expand the namespace
  • Sponsored TLDs — .gov, .edu, .mil. Restricted to specific organizations

The TLD you choose affects branding, trust, and sometimes SEO. .com remains the most recognized, but country-code TLDs can be valuable for regional audiences.

Registrars and Registries

Two organizations are involved in every domain registration:

  • Registry — the organization that manages an entire TLD. Verisign operates .com, DENIC operates .de. The registry maintains the master database of all domains under that TLD
  • Registrar — a company authorized to sell domains to the public on behalf of the registry. When you register a domain through Sitequest, we act as the registrar (or reseller) and handle the communication with the registry

The registry sets the rules and wholesale prices. The registrar provides the interface, billing, and support.

Subdomains

A subdomain is an additional level added in front of your domain name. You can create as many as you want without extra registration:

  • www.example.com — the traditional web prefix
  • blog.example.com — a blog hosted separately
  • api.example.com — an API endpoint
  • staging.example.com — a testing environment

Subdomains are configured through DNS records. Each one can point to a different server or service.

Domain vs. Hosting

A domain name and web hosting are two separate things:

  • The domain is the address — it tells browsers where to look
  • Hosting is the server that stores your website files and responds to requests

You need both to have a working website. Register your domain, then point it at your server using DNS records. With Sitequest, you can manage both from a single dashboard.

What Happens When You Type a Domain

  1. You enter example.com in your browser
  2. Your device asks a DNS resolver (usually run by your ISP) for the IP address behind that domain
  3. The resolver queries the root servers, then the .com nameservers, then the authoritative nameservers for example.com
  4. The authoritative nameserver returns the IP address (e.g., 93.184.216.34)
  5. Your browser connects to that IP and loads the website

This entire process — called DNS resolution — typically takes under 100 milliseconds. For a deeper look at each step, see How DNS Works.

Next Steps