How domains work, how to pick a name, what registration really costs after year one, and how to connect a domain to any web host.
A domain name is the human-friendly address of your website, such as yourname.com. Behind the scenes, the Domain Name System (DNS) translates that name into the numeric address of the server that hosts your site. When you register a domain, you are renting the right to use that name for a set period, usually one to ten years at a time.
The company you register with is called a registrar. Your registrar records you as the owner, lets you renew the name, and lets you choose where the domain points: to your web host, your email provider, or both. Your web host and your registrar can be the same company, but they do not have to be.
If you have to spell it out over the phone, it is too complicated. Avoid hyphens and numbers that could be written two ways.
Fewer characters mean fewer typos. Aim for something memorable rather than a string of keywords.
.com is still the most trusted default. Country extensions suit businesses that serve one country; niche ones like .blog or .studio can work for personal brands.
Search the name online, in trademark databases and on the social networks you plan to use before you register.
If budget allows, buy the common misspelling or the .net version and redirect it to your main site.
Never let a designer or agency hold your domain in their account. You should always have the registrar login.
An expired domain can be bought by someone else. Keep auto-renew on and your contact email up to date.
Introductory domain prices are often discounted heavily, and many hosts include a domain free for year one. From year two you pay the registrar’s normal renewal rate. Premium names, which registries price individually, can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars a year.
Before you register, check three numbers: the renewal price, the price of WHOIS privacy (many registrars now include it free), and the cost to transfer the domain away if you change your mind.
You only need to do this once per host. Changes usually take effect within a few hours, and occasionally up to 48.
It is convenient, and a free first year is useful. Registering separately keeps your domain safe if you ever change hosts or a hosting account is suspended. Both approaches are fine as long as the domain is in your name.
Yes, after the first 60 days in most cases. You unlock the domain, request an authorisation code, and start the transfer at the new registrar. A transfer normally adds a year to the registration.
Most extensions give a short grace period to renew at the normal price, followed by a redemption period with an extra fee. After that, the name can be released for anyone to register.
No. The same domain can serve both your website and your email addresses. You can use your host’s email or point the domain’s MX records at a separate email provider.
