What is a domain name for a website ? : Definition and History

Domain name definition 

What is a domain name for a website ? A domain name is a unique name, reasonably like an e-mail address is unique, which is registered in a database called WHOIS through an organization called Network Solutions, Inc. (NSI). The domain name corresponds to a unique set of numbers called an IP (Internet Protocol) address.

The reason we use domain names rather than IP addresses, is that they're nearer to our language. It would be hard to market a web site like this: “Go to 55.192.211.77 or 165.212.233.222 to search the web!” A much easier way to do this is to say “Go to www.Google.com or www.yahoo.com to search the web!” (Both Google and Yahoo are trade marked by Google, Inc., and Yahoo, Inc., respectively).

A domain name points to a computer called a “name server”. The name server knows that your domain name relates to your web hosting server’s IP address and it routes the one that written in your domain name to your web hosting server – to your web site. That is the manner by which individuals anyplace on the planet can see your site by writing your domain name.

Domain name history

In 1992, the National Science Foundation conceded a restrictive contract to NSI to be the only registrar of high level domain names. NSI additionally had a cooperative agreement with United States Department of Commerce (“DoC”). With no competition, consumers were at the mercy of NSI.

In 1998, NSI and the DoC amended their cooperative agreement to permit for competing registrars. NSI was compelled to supply domain name registration to the competing registrars at wholesale costs, instead the standard $34.99 annual fee. NSI still charges $34.99 annually.

In late 1998, the DoC allotted the responsibility of overseeing the transition to a competitive market for domain names and accreditation of new registrars to a new organization called the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

In 1999, ICANN started taking applications from companies who wanted to become registrars and then capitalism took over: companies needed to compete for business. Costs descended and service enhanced, but some higher than others. For additional history of this transition, visit www.icann.org/registrars/accreditation-history.htm.

Even with the positive impacts of competition in the domain name marketplace, the process of internet domain name registration remains a mystery for a lot of people.