Domain Name / Web Address
A domain name is a Web address. It is also very similar to an address forwarding service. A domain name is the address people type into their browser to get to a Web site. The domain name points to the “real” address of the server that contains your Web site content. The “real” address is called the IP address and is a series of numbers. The IP address then points to the location on the server where your Web site files are located. Domain names are used instead of IP addresses because most people find it much easier.
A domain name is the same as an IP address (which represents a physical point on the Internet). A domain name points to your IP address which is the location of your Web site files on a server. That allows users all across the Internet to view your Web pages. The domain name is letters and numbers that make sense to humans, while the IP address is a series of numbers.
By having a domain name as your web address indicates the establishment of your online identity. The most important decision you can make since it is generally the most forward representation you will display to curious web surfers. Some people hear about or see a good domain name, which alone can be enough to make them want to look up your web site. Having a business card without a domain name web address puts you at a disadvantage since your competitor is likely to have one.
Establish a web site under someone else’s domain and just have some pages on their web site. Unless there are good reasons to be under someone else’s, your web address will be seen as merely a part of the larger web site. But it is almost always temporary. When you have your own domain name, web surfers know you will be there forever or for as long as your web site shall exist. A domain name is also easier to remember.
Domain name consists of a top-level and a second-level domain. A top-level domain (TLD) name like “com” is a part of the domain name that generally reflects the type or purpose of the organization or entity. The part of the domain name located to the left of the dot (“.”) - “your domain” in this case - is called the second-level domain (SLD) name. The second-level domain name being the “readable” part of the address - refers to the organization or entity behind the Internet address. Second-level domains must be registered through an Internet Corporation for Assigned Names & Numbers (ICANN) accredited registrar.