Domain Names

Domain names are, strictly speaking, not necessary for the functioning of the Internet. If all the domain names tomorrow disappeared overnight, it would still be possible for computers to talk to computers, by means of their IP address.

An IP address is the four-part number that looks like this: 128.125.253.131

How the System Works

These numbers are what computers use to route data — e-mail, Web pages, music files — all over the Internet. But because humans can make better use of names, the domain name system was set up.

When your computer tries to go to a domain that it's never heard of before, it goes through a series of steps. Let's look at the example of hopstudios.com.

First, your computer asks the local Domain Name Server, "Have you heard of 'hopstudios.com'?"

If that computer hasn't heard of it, it will go ask the name server authority, "Who's in charge of 'hopstudios.com'?"

It will probably be told that some other DNS machine at Hop Studios' ISP is in charge of knowing that. So it goes and asks the local ISP's machine, "Hey, what's with this 'hopstudios.com'?"

That machine says, "Oh, I know where that machine is — it's the server at this IP address: 66.84.47.224."

This gets told back to your own computer, and communication between the two can now occur.

Who's in Charge?

It's a complicated question, but most countries are in charge of their own domain name systems. Each top level domain (.uk, .fr, .com, .biz, .tv) has its own rules about who can set up domains within that space and how much it costs.

Ultimately, domain name policy is set by ICANN (http://www.icann.org/), the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. Domain disputes are settled by WIPO (http://arbiter.wipo.int/domains/), the World Intellectual Property Organization Arbitration and Mediation Center.

For more information, check out Domain.com's article (http://www.domain.com/articles/domain-register.html).

Domain Names Are Not Web Hosting

Buying a domain name is something you do from a registrar. Later, you can buy Internet Hosting, and then you modify your record with the original registrar. My local name server machine is the one at my ISP. Many ISPs also provide registrar service, but you should shop around and find the best price.