Internet domain name
Internet domain name
An Internet domain name is a unique name of an organization or person on the Internet. The name is combined with a generic top-level domain (gTLD), such as .com or .org. For example, computerlanguage.com is the domain name for the publisher of this encyclopedia. By 2019, there were more than 300 million registered domain names.Under ICANN's "New gTLD" program, communities, industries and organizations can create their own top-level domain names (see New gTLD).
Registration Is Required
In order for a domain name to be visible on the Internet, it must first be registered with any one of hundreds of registrars, which will verify that the name is absolutely unique. See registrar.
Dub-Dub-Dub or Whatever
In order to access The Computer Language Company website, www.computerlanguage.com is typed into the browser's address bar (see URL). The WWW, often verbalized as "dub-dub-dub," is a mnemonic commonly used for the hostname of a company's Web server. However, WWW is only a recommendation, and Web servers can be assigned any hostname. In addition, most companies configure their Web servers to not require a hostname. For example, computerlanguage.com without the WWW is sufficient. See hostname and DNS.
Different mnemonics are also widely used to identify sections of a site; for example, support.computerlanguage.com could be a valid address, in which case the word SUPPORT could not be omitted when typing the name.
Generic Top-Level Domains
In 1985, the following generic top-level domains (gTLDs) were created.
Unrestricted gTLDs.com commercial .net network oriented .org non-profit organization Restricted gTLDs.edu accredited U.S. educational .gov U.S. government agencies .mil U.S. military .int international treaties (1988)
More Domain Names
Starting in 2000, ICANN added more domains. Sponsored domains means that their use is reserved for a particular community, or registration is restricted to a certain type of applicant (see sTLD).
Sponsored Top-Level DomainssTLD Purpose.aero global aviation community .asia Pan-Asia/Asia Pacific region .cat Catalan community .coop cooperatives .jobs human resources/employment .mobi mobile products/services .museum museums .post postal sector .pro licensed professionals .tel contacts (see .tel) .travel travel industry .xxx X-rated Unsponsored Top-Level Domains.biz businesses .info information service .name individuals
Countries Also Have Domain Names
Every country has a top-level domain; for example, .ca for Canada and .fr for France. The U.S. country code is .us, but it is not widely used. See country code, New gTLD, ICANN, IP address and FQDN.