Domain Name Services: Everything You Need to Know!
How would people find you online? Using your specific website name. Now, how to get a name for your website? Simply, by using domain name services and online domain name registrars. The Internet is a huge world in itself wherein varied businesses and websites exist. To find your specific business name, blog, online portfolio, or shop, a domain registration is required. That’s exactly the first impression or the name by which your visitors will recognize you further.
Picking a right name using a domain lookup is of utmost importance as it reflects your branding, credibility, and search visibility. But how does it exactly work? What is the role of a DNS domain name server? Or who are the best domain name registrars?
This guide will provide accurate answers to all these questions, that too, from bottom to the top. You’ll find solutions to everything about a domain name here. So sit tight and go through this exclusive guide.
Understanding: What are Domain Names?
What is a Domain Name?
Would you remember computer lingo for a website or a name instead? Definitely a name, right. Thus, a domain name is the human friendly version of website name or website address. Thus, instead of remembering and typing an IP address to access a site, you simply write its name. For instance, coolkids.com.
Typically, a domain name has two main parts:
- Second-Level Domain (SLD): This is your website domain name’s unique portion. In our example of coolkids.com, the word coolkids is SLD.
- Top-Level Domain (TLD): The top level DNS defines the domain’s category. It compulsorily comes after the dot. The categories for instance are .com suggesting commercial, .org suggesting organization, or country specific ones like .in and .uk.
Going further, there are also subdomains that are a branch of the main domain name. For instance, a blog page of a website will have a subdomain like blog.coolkids.com. These subdomains are used to address multiple sections of the website.
What is DNS, ICANN, and WHOIS?
The Internet is a huge interconnected network. Domain names play an important role in keeping this system organized. However, behind every domain name, there’s a well set system supporting smooth functioning. How? Here’s your solution.
What is DNS (Domain Name System)?
Imagine your contact lists. Now, would you search for a specific number by number or by the person’s name? Definitely the name, right! Thus, a Domain Name System is the internet’s saved contact list. It translates domain names into computer friendly IP addresses and vice versa. For instance coolkids.com translates to 192.0.2.1. Do you think we would remember all such numbers for every website we want to access? That’s why there are domain names and why you should check domain name availability and purchase website domain.
To conclude, DNS is the middleman or a translator between humans and computers. This ensures a smooth browsing experience and accurate web search.
What is ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)?
Just like every system has an organization to look over it, here we have ICANN. It oversees varied functions like domain registrations and manages top level domains. It also ensures fair practices and policies around domain name system and domain ownership. It prevents domain disputes and ensures that the names are unique, properly assigned, and whether there are expired domains.
What is WHOIS?
When searching about domain name services, you must have come across WHOIS database or WHOIS lookup or simply just WHOIS. To put it simply, it is the public database of domain names that stores details of domain registration. Just like a school administration staff stores details of all students with their name, class, fees, etc. WHOIS domain lookup and storing keeps a check on information like,
- Domain owner’s name (based on privacy settings).
- Domain registration and expiration dates.
- The domain registrar.
WHOIS lookup tools can be used to check domain availability or check the owner of the domain.
Top Domain Name Services in 2025
Once you check the availability of a specific domain name or think of a name, it’s time to use the best domain registrar to get it registered. Domain name registrars are authorized companies by ICANN who can sell, auction, or manage varied domain names. It’s time to explore our top recommendations of domain name services and registrars that will support your website.
GoDaddy: Best Domain Hosting Plans
Everyone has heard about GoDaddy in the domain name services and hosting field. Herein, you can buy domain, opt for website and hosting services, as well as security and marketing services. With GoDaddy domain search, you can transfer domain names, participate in auctions, generate domain names, or even look up in WHOIS.
Top Features:
- A wide variety of domain extensions with popular top level domains like .com, .net, .org and other niche specific extensions.
- Very simple and intuitive platform for registration suitable for everyone.
- Integrates with a powerful website builder for easy drag and drop site building.
- Robust customer support via phone, chat, or email to ensure round the clock assistance.
- Offers varied hosting services like shared, VPS, or dedicated. It also offers a free domain name for a year with some hosting plans.
Namecheap: Affordable Domain Registration
Namecheap offers multiple budget friendly options with its domain search and registration services. You can check out Namecheap market or explore the WHOIS repository as well. Moreover, it also provides other WordPress services, hosting, security, and varied applications to suit different business needs.
Top Features:
- Looking at the pricing point of view, Namecheap provides affordable rates for initial registrations as well as renewals.
- Its domain name services also include a free WHOIS privacy protection that helps keep your data confidential.
- Domain management is super easy with its intuitive control panel.
- Live chat and online ticketing system for 24/7 support service.
- Supports comprehensive online presence with its additional services like web hosting, SSL certificates, and email hosting.
Squarespace Domains (formerly Google Domains)
Squarespace is an official Google Workspace partner and thus, Google Domains is now Squarespace domains. It provides a smooth domain registration experience and allows for website domain search. The platform is simple, transparent, and super advanced.
Top Features:
- Straightforward pricing structures with every domain name purchase with a fixed set of tools.
- Free privacy protection of WHOIS to keep your registration information safe and secure.
- Seamless integration with Squarespace website builder and thus, perfect for ones using Squarespace.
- The DNS services with Squarespace domain services are quite reliable to keep your site accessible throughout.
- Allows creation of professional email addresses for free email forwarding.
- Round the clock support services to keep your domain and website up to the mark.
IONOS Domain Registration (formerly 1&1)
Previously known as 1&1, IONOS domain registrar and hosting provider is loved for its comprehensive services and affordable pricing. Get access to top level domains like .nyc, .dev, .app, etc. The pricing for a domain name starts at as low as $1/year.
Top Features:
- Perfect to begin your online website journey for a cost-effective start.
- Free professional email address with up to 2GB of space to start with.
- Super easy setup with support to 10000+ customizable subdomains.
- Provides SSL certificate and DDoS protection for a robust security of your site.
- Other services of business website setup, email hosting, online store, game server, and cheap domains as well.
Bluehost: WordPress Domain Name Services and Hosting
Bluehost WordPress hosting and domain name services solution is especially recommended by WordPress. This popular domain registration services integrated with hosting plans offers a convenient choice to build a WordPress website.
Top Features:
- You get a free domain name with Bluehost’s hosting plan for a year. With it, you can opt for extensions like .com, .net, .org, or even .blog.
- Helps setting up a WordPress site with just a click. It is perfectly user friendly and budget friendly for beginners.
- Offers unmetered bandwidth to ensure top performance at all traffic levels.
- Round the clock customer support via chat and phone to solve all your queries in time.
- Helps enhance the website security with a free SSL certificate to boost the trust among your visitors.
Pricing of Varied Domain Name Services
Pricing of all the domain name registrars vary based on the name you choose, availability of the name, your region, and the extension you choose. Further, based on the tenure for which you register for the domain also affects its pricing. The first year price is comparatively lower but the domain renewal charges are higher. Thus, you will have to check it separately for different domains. However, to make your task easy, here are a few pointers that you must consider.
- Compare the Base Price vs the Renewal Price of your chosen domain and extension.
- Think about varied extensions as based on that, the pricing differs. Common extensions like .com or .net are cheaper than niche extensions like .tech or .dance.
- Checkout for promotional discounts as many registrars will offer initial discounts that last for a limited time.
- Ensure whether the WHOIS privacy protection is available for free or at some additional cost.
- See whether the addons like SSL certificate, professional email, security services, or support are available with the bundle or require separate investment.
- It is a must to check transfer fees and the domain transfer procedure if in any case you would like to switch registrars in the future.
Keeping these pointers in mind, you can easily choose a registrar that provides maximum consistent benefits for a year.
Wrapping Up
Registering your domain name with trusted domain name services is essential to set up your online presence. This will be your online identity and allow visitors to surf your website and explore your business. Firstly, understand the complete concepts of domain name and its related terms. For that purpose, this guide is best. After that, you can check out domain availability and pricing on various registrars and make a final decision.
FAQs
1. What is WHOIS, and how can I use it?
WHOIS is the public database that contains details of varied domain registrations. It includes details like domain registration date, expiration date, and the owner of the domain name. You can use the WHOIS lookup tools to check domain availability and verify expiration dates to avoid buying an expired domain name.
2. Can I transfer my domain to another registrar?
Definitely you can. If you want to shift your online name registrar for better services and pricing, you can easily transfer the name to another provider. Just follow the given steps:
- Get your domain unlocked from the current registrar.
- Obtain an EPP or authorization code from your registrar.
- Begin the transfer process
- Confirm transfer procedure via email.
This process may take a few days. Before opting for a registrar, check their policies and process on domain transfer for clarity.
3. What is WHOIS privacy protection?
Also known as private domain registration, the WHOIS privacy protection keeps your personal information protected in the WHOIS database lookup. It usually replaces it with generic details from your registrar or encrypted data. This helps keep your private data safe and be cautious from site attackers.
4. Are domain names and hosting services different?
Domain names services and hosting are different from each other, however, work hand in hand. To relate it to real life, domain name is typically you as a person and your name while the hosting is where you and your things live, that is your house.
- Domain Name: the web address coolkids.com.
- Web Hosting: The server space where your files are stored.
You will find multiple registrars like Bluehost, GoDaddy, Hostinger, etc. that offer hosting services and domain names both as a package. It is usually a more affordable deal.
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Brian Denim
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