For those that are uncertain about domain registration, we provide a few answers to common questions. I hope these are helpful. If you have specific questions you would like to ask, please email us.
How to register a domain name yourself?
How to register a .com Domain name?
How to register a domain name uk
How to register a domain name in the UK?
What is the process to register a domain?
Q. What is a Domain?
A domain name is a label that defines an individual resource such as a web site. Their internet address is created according to rules and procedures of the Internet Domain Name System.
The domain name system allows you to associate text which humans understand with a number that computers understand. A domain name provides an easily recognizable and memorizable name for a numerically addressed Internet resource.
A domain name will have the form xyz.com or xyz.org.uk. There are lots of possible extensions to choose from indicating country and type of business or function.
For a full explanation see the entry for domain in Wikipedia.
Q What is domain registration?
Registering a domain is the process where you acquire the exclusive right to use a domain name. Domain registration does not confer ownership rights of any permanent nature. The process of domain registration simply assigns a right of exclusive use of a domain only, and for limited period. If you fail to renew your domain at the end of its assigned period, it will return to the pool where someone else may rent it. Domain registrars usually notify you by email in advance of your your domain renewal date.
Q. How to register a Domain name yourself?
If you are not sure how to register a domain, here is a brief explanation.
Basically, registering a domain is a very simple process and absolutely nothing to be scared of. There are numerous sites on the Internet where you can register domains. In fact, there are so many I can list only a few l here. Some of the most popular and well known include:
But there are websites where you can register a domain. I normally use Godaddy and Whois. Godaddy has a useful interface if you want to check lots of domains at once, but in my experience both are quick and efficient.
The system for registering a domain is same for all the sites although the interface will vary. There are lots of videos on YouTube that give quick lessons on how to register if you get into difficulties and there are instructions on most of the sites.
The only thing that differentiates them in my experience, is price. Some are cheaper than others. I used to think 123Reg.com was cheap until my daughter went to register her site there and discovered that it was charging almost 50% more than whois.com.
Q. How to register a .com Domain name?
The process for registering a .com domain is exaclty the same as registering any other domain. When you register your domain you will be given the option of choosing the extension you want. You may find that some registar sites won't offer you all possible extensions. If not, just go to another. The only reason why you may not be able to buy it, is because someone has it already.
Q. How to register a Domain name UK?
You can register a .co.uk domain at any of the registrars that include that option. If you don't find it listed in one of the domain registrars, go to another one.
Q. How to register a domain name in the UK?
You can use any of the domain registars to register a domain name in the UK. If you are in the UK you don't necessarily need to have a website with a .co.uk domain although of course you can. Many people based in the UK register a .com domain at the same time as a .co.uk domain.
Q. What is the process to register a domain?
When you go to any of the domain registrars the process for registering a domain is largely the same although the website interface at each site will be different.
At each site you will find a search box. The search box has two purposes:
- to discover if the domain you are looking for is available
- to help you find alternative domains, if the one you are after is no longer available.
When you arrive at the domain registrar check out the prices if you have the opportuninty before proceding. Some of them don't give you this opportunity before check-out which is a little irritating.
If you are happy with the prices, you can proceed with registering your domain.
The process of registration consists of the following:
- Deciding on the name you want
- Deciding on the domain extension you want eg. .com , .co.uk , .info , .net etc.
- Seraching to discover whether your domain name is available
- Choosing an alternative domain name if it is not available
- Deciding where to host your domain – ie. will you host your website with the registrar, or eslewhere
- Completing payment
Ready to start?
1 Choose a registrar from the list above eg. www.godaddy.com
2 Select the extension (ie .com, .co.uk or other extension) you would like, and enter your desired domain name into the search box. Sometimes the extension options are contained in checkboxes, and sometimes in a drop down box,
3 You will have a short wait while the search takes place. The results will tell you whether your chosen domain is available. The results will also return with alternatives with different extensions if appropriate. Some registars produce a list of alternative domain names if your chosen one is taken aleardy. These lists can be very useful and can stimulate good ideas for alternative domain names.
4 Select the domain name, or search for another.
TIP – it doesn’t seem to matter which website you register your domain at, although you may find that some sites are unable to register domains in the country of your choice. If that’s the case, just find another registrar website. There are so many to choose from. I have used all of the above at one time or another and I have no idea where they are located, but they all seemed to work ok.
5 Change the domain name server settings if you need to, or return at a later time to make these changes
6 Go to checkout and Pay
There are two aspects to registering a domain:
- registering the name itself e.g. domainname.com or domainname.co.uk – or other ending,
- domain hosting – ie where your website files are stored
Most registrars will try and sell you hosting at the same time as registration, so watch out for it. You don;t have to accept their hosting.
Q What is Web Hosting?
Hosting or Web Hosting is the storage and making available of the actual files for the website to visitors on the Internet. Hostin defines the location of the computer that your website is stored on. The web hosting computer can be at the same place you registered your domain, or it can be anywhere else you choose. The DNS system manages the webiste and hosting addresses, and ensures that your website is found and served up to a visitor when someone types the website domain into their browser.
When you register your domain, you can decide whether to accept or decline the registrar's hosting. If you decline their hosting, you will need to enter details of the domain name servers for your chosen web host. You can do this at the same time as registration, or you can return later to do this. It's a simple process but it has to be done if your website is going to be accessible. If you need to change the domain name servers, it can take up to 48 hours for the new hosting details to propagate around the internet.
When you register for hosting at a webhost such as hostgator, you will be sent an email after the transaction is complete with details of your hosting, and the domain name server details. You will need to use these details to modify the domain name server settings at your registrar before your website will become accessible on the internet.
Your Domain name is the human memorable name you have assigned to your website, and that the Internet agrees to register to you. But your website needs a numerical address for other computers to find you. This number is supplied by your webhost who act as your domain name server. The Internet keeps a record of this number and ties it to your domain name thus enabling any computer, anywhere in the world, to find your website. Whenever you move from one webhost to another, you need to update the domain registry to inform the rest of the internet of your move so that your site can still be found. This is a simple process, and all domain registrars have a facility to allow you to do this. When you update your domain name servers, it can take up to 48 hours to propagate around the Internet.
When you update your domain name server (which you always to at your original registrar), you supply it with the number given to you by your new host, the one you will be moving to.