What is a Domain Name?
A domain name is a technical term for the ‘address' of a particular website on the internet, the domain name tells your browser where to look to access the pages you want to see. The domain name for this website, for example, is “twmg.com.au” and you arrived at this page from clicking through one web page to another, moving from one domain name to another, or by typing the exact address into the address bar of your browser.
What is a URL?
URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator and forms the entire address used to access a particular website, including the domain name. URLs were devised as an easier form of internet navigation over IP Addresses that traditionally identify the host server for a website through a series of numbers. A URL uses easy to remember words and letters to replace the impractical IP Address method. Therefore, a URL for TWMG website would be ‘http://www.twmg.com.au' and will contain the Hypertext Transfer protocol” (HTTP) allowing you to use words instead of an IP Address, and the domain name itself (www.twmg.com.au) identifying the server and the particular files on that server to be accessed.
What are Top Level and Second Level Domain Names?
You may have noticed that some domain names end in fewer dots and letters than others. For example, the domain name mysite.com has fewer components than mysite.com.au. Dot Com domains (.com) was the first domain style to be introduced, and is considered a Top Level Domain or TLD as it features only one suffix. Top level domains also cover any other domain name form that only has one suffix – for example; .net, .info, .biz, and so on.
Second Level Domains or 2LDs are domain names that contain another level of qualification to this. For example; .com.au is a second level domain style as it contains an additional suffix after the .com. Second level domains are no less effective or desirable than top level domains. In some cases, they can actually be MORE desirable as the additional suffix can help to say something about your business, such as where in the world you are located.
What are Subdomains?
Subdomains are additional sections to the URL that further divide the existing domain name. Subdomains take the form www.subdomain.mysite.com.au, placing the new section title before the primary domain name identifier. This is most commonly seen with blogs, as it clearly partitions off a section of the domain for this purpose. Subdomains do not need to be registered separately from your existing domain name and can be created as you build your website.
Although there are many more issues involved with domain names, particularly as new domain suffixes and rules are created on a regular basis, this is enough information for you to be able to start working with domain names for your website. Of course, before you can use a domain name, you will need to register it.
Australia Accredited Domain Name Registrars
Domain name registrars are companies accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and/or by a national ccTLD authority to register Internet domain names. These companies are often web hosting companies who offer a range of website-related services.
Aust Domains
Register your Australian domain names with Aust Domains and experience great customer service, the best pricing along with a fast and simple registration process.
1. Check Availability (opens in new window)
This is where you check that your preferred domain name hasn't already been registered by somebody else. A domain name can only be registered to one person at any one time, so if someone else has already registered it, you won't be able to (or you can put it on back order). Of course, the good thing about this is that, once you register your own domain name, nobody else can get it - it's yours for as long as you want it to be!
To check availability, go to Aust Domains, enter your preferred domain into the search form, and click "GO!".
2. If the domain is not available, try again using an alternative name.
3. If the domain is available, continue to checkout.
This part is just like purchasing any other product online. You simply follow the prompts through to the checkout. You may be offered related products, such as similar domain names or different top level domains. To add these to your order, click "YES! Add these to my order.". Otherwise, click "Continue to checkout".
*Note that you must supply up to date contact details. Domain name registrars won't let you register a domain name without providing these details.
We can register your Domain Names and renew the registration of your domain name for a one-time annual fee.
To register your domain names click here and experience great customer service, the best pricing along with a fast and simple registration process.
1. Check Availability
This is where you check that your preferred domain name hasn't already been registered by somebody else. A domain name can only be registered to one person at any one time, so if someone else has already registered it, you won't be able to (or you can put it on back order). Of course, the good thing about this is that, once you register your own domain name, nobody else can get it - it's yours for as long as you want it to be!
To check availability, enter your preferred domain into the search form, and click "GO!".
2. If the domain is not available, try again using an alternative name.
3. If the domain is available, continue to checkout.
This part is just like purchasing any other product online. You simply follow the prompts through to the checkout. You may be offered related products, such as similar domain names or different top level domains. To add these to your order, click "YES! Add these to my order.". Otherwise, click "Continue to checkout".
*Note that you must supply up to date contact details. Domain name registrars won't let you register a domain name without providing these details.
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