A domain name is the address of a website that people type into their web browser to visit it. For example, in the URL https://www.example.com, the domain name is example.com.
Think of a domain name as the digital equivalent of a physical address. Just like your home address tells people where to find you, your domain name tells browsers where to find your website on the internet.
How Do Domain Names Work?
When you enter a domain name into your browser, here’s what happens:
1. DNS Lookup – The domain is translated into an IP address by the Domain Name System (DNS). Every website is hosted on a server with an IP address (like 192.168.0.1), but domain names make it easier for humans to remember.
2. Server Request – Your browser sends a request to the server associated with that IP address.
3. Website Loads – The server responds by sending the website’s content back to your browser.
Types of Domain Names
- Top-Level Domains (TLDs): These are the highest level in the domain name hierarchy, appearing after the final dot (e.g.,
.com,.org, .net, .info). - Second-Level Domain (SLD): This is the name you choose, e.g., google, facebook, publicmethods.
- Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs): These are two-letter domains assigned to countries or territories, e.g. co.zw, .co.za, co.uk
- Sponsored Top-Level Domains (sTLDs): These are TLDs backed by private organizations with specific purposes or communities, e.g. .gov, .edu
- Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs): Newer and more customizable TLDs introduced to offer more variety, e.g. .ai, .io, .blog, .store
- Subdomains: A child of the main domain added by a prefix to the main domain, e.g. en.wikipedia.com, blog.yoursite.com. Subdomains act as standalone websites.
Why Are Domain Names Important?
Brand Identity
A domain is often your first impression. A good domain name reflects your brand and makes you look professional.
Trust & Credibility
People trust businesses with a custom domain more than those using free subdomains (e.g., yourbusiness.wordpress.com).
Marketing & SEO
Although trival, keyword-rich domain can improve your visibility on search engines like Google.
Email Branding
You can create professional emails like info@yourdomain.com instead of using a generic Gmail or Yahoo address.
How to Register a Domain Name
Choose a Domain Registrar – Websites like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Zimbabwean registrars like Novacity or Webdev. We’re going to use Nivacity as example.
- Go to nivacity.com
- Type your domain name in the search bar to check availability.
- Click register if available.
- You are given an option to buy hosting if you don’t have one
- Proceed to checkout
Tips for choosing domain names
- Use a unique name that is not widely available on the internet. This will avoid similar names appearing when people search.
- Use local domains if you’re targeting local people, e.g. .co.zw. These domains are easier to rank in local searches.
- Keep it short and easy to remember
- Avoid numbers and hyphens
- Use keywords related to your business or industry.
How much do domain names cost?
Domain name costs vary depending on the type of domain. .com, org, .net range from $10 – $20.
Local domain names are usually cheaper. You can get a .co.zw for $3 or $5.
Unique and custom TLDs such as .ai, .io can be expensive, ranging from $50-$100.
When should I buy a domain name
Should I buy a domain before or after having a website?
There’s no specific time to buy a domain. You can secure a domain name before having a website, or you can buy it once the website development is completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I own a domain name forever?
No, you register and renew (pay) it every year .
Can I change my domain name later?
Once you buy a domain name you can’t change the name; you’ll need to buy a new one with the new name or wait for it to deleted. If it’s still live you’ll need to redirect traffic from the old to new.
What happens if someone else owns my desired domain?
You can choose a different variation or contact the owner to negotiate a purchase.
What is a Subdomain
A subdomain is child of the parent domain. This is the first part of the domain, e.g. www.yousite.com, en.wikipedia.com. www. and en. are the subdomains. Subdomains act as standalone websites.
What are Parked Domains
A parked domain is a registered domain that is unused (parked). These domains are usually charged a lot of money.
Final Thoughts
A domain name is more than just an online address – it’s the foundation of your digital identity. Whether you’re launching a personal blog, an e-commerce store, or a company website, choosing the right domain name is one of the first and most important steps in your online journey.
This page was written with the assistance of AI. Read more about our AI usage policy