Domain names and their corresponding IP addresses must be registered before they can be active on the Internet. Registering a domain requires
ensuring that the domain name is not currently registered, filling out registration forms, and paying a fee. This process is ultimately performed through an on-line registrar, such as
For a number of business and competitive reasons (particularly for marketing reasons), the choice of a domain name is important. The business team within a Web site development team may invest a lot of time and money determining the best domain name for the site. In some cases, an organization may try to buy a
desired domain name from another entity or person if it is already registered. Typically, the initial registration is good for two years, renewable yearly after that. Different Registrars may have different plans.
It is critical that the registration is kept up to date to avoid such problems as a site suddenly becoming inaccessible, or losing "ownership" of a name altogether because a different organization applies for that name in the meantime and reserves it for itself.
You can test this process yourself by visiting the InterNIC Web site at www.internic.net. Enter a name that you think you would like to use if you had your own business (remember, a domain name does NOT contain the WWW). Is the name you selected already registered? Who registered it?
In the next lesson, more about how protocols are used to send and receive information over networks will be discussed.
Click the Quiz link below to test your knowledge of the Internet infrastructure, internet addresses, and domain names.
Internet Addresses Domains - Quiz