|
A Guide To Choosing A Domain Name
Once you have made the decision to have a website, the next step is to choose a domain name. A domain name is the address that Internet viewers use to access your website. Your domain name is your identity on the Internet and is similar to having your own phone number. Essentially, domain names serve as routing addresses on the Internet.
A domain name is an alphanumeric unique name that identifies individual computers on the Internet. For example, MGM Web Designs’ domain name is www.mgmwd.com. The characters that are allowed in a domain name include the 26 letters of the English alphabet, numbers 0-9, and hyphens (-). It cannot begin or end with a hyphen, but it may contain one or more hyphens. One does not actually own a domain name, but pays a domain name registrar for the right to use that domain name. Domain names have a suffix or extension, which is based on the type of organization it is associated with. Common suffixes include:
- .com - commercial businesses
- .org - nonprofit organizations
- .edu - educational institutions
- .gov - government agencies
- .tv - television shows/channels
- .us - United States based businesses/individuals (patriotic)
Additional domain name extensions include: .biz, .info, .name, .museum, and more options are being added.
|
