What is a domain name?

Practically speaking, your domain name (Web address) is the core of your Internet identity, your online brand. Your customers will remember this name and use it to find your Web site, your products or your services. And since no two parties can ever hold the same domain name or web address simultaneously, your Internet identity is totally unique!

Technically, a domain name (Web address or URL) is an addressing construct used for identifying and locating computers on the Internet. While computers use Internet Protocol (IP) numbers to locate each other on the Internet, people find them hard to remember. Therefore, domain names (Web addresses) were developed to permit the use of easily remembered words and phrases to identify Internet addresses.

For example, the domain name (Web address) wdbc.com represents Web Design by Cookie's Web sites. When you type wdbc.com into a Web browser or send e-mail to someone at wdbc.com, the Domain Name System (DNS) translates wdbc.com into the IP numbers (206.131.255.9) used by the Internet and connects you to Web Design by Cookie.

What does it mean to "register" a domain name?

When you register a domain name, you are inserting an entry into the domain name "registry," a directory of all the domain names and their corresponding computers on the Internet.

What is an Internet domain name "registry"?

An Internet domain name Registry is an entity that receives domain name system (DNS) information from domain name Registrars, inserts that information into a centralized database and publishes the information in zone files on the Internet so that domain names can be found by users around the world via applications such as the World Wide Web and e-mail. In short, the Registry creates and maintains the database of domain names for a given top-level domain (e.g. .BIZ, .INFO, .COM). There is one registry for each of the top-level domains (e.g. NeuLevel administers the .BIZ registry, Afilias maintains the .INFO registry, Verisign Global Registry Services maintains the .COM registry, etc. under a contract with ICANN).

What is a domain name "Registrar"?

A Registrar provides direct services to domain name Registrants. Registrars process domain name registrations for Internet end users (registrants) and then send the necessary DNS and contact information to a Registry for entry into the centralized database and ultimate distribution over the Internet. There are multiple Registrars providing registration services for any given top-level domain registry.

What are the rules for registration of .biz, .com, .info, .name, .net and .org names?

The .com, .info, .net, and .org TLDs are open and unrestricted global domains meaning that anyone in any country can register them for any purpose. Traditionally, however, domain names in .net have been used by organizations involved in Internet infrastructure activities and .org is frequently used by noncommercial organizations. .Biz is a restricted domain and reserved solely for business use. Likewise, .name is dedicated exclusively to individuals' personal names. In general domain names cannot have more than 63 characters excluding the "www" and "extension."

Are .biz, .com, .name, .net, .info and .org domain names available for registration on a global basis?

Yes, these domains are available for registration by Internet users across the globe.

How can I determine if the domain name I want is available?

It's easy to find out if the name you want is available. Simply enter your desired domain name (Web address) in the search box on our home page or in the domain name registration area. We'll tell you if the name you want is available, and if not we'll give you some alternatives using other extensions based on your first choice. You can search as much as you like since its free! Lastly, you can do some brainstorming with our interactive NameSpin utility, It will offer suggestions based on keywords you enter and help you find a good domain address.

What do I do if a domain is not available?

Currently, 90% of domain names registered are not being used, so it's no wonder 25,000 expire daily — ready to be picked up by you. There is a possibility that the domain you want is not available, however through our partner SnapNames, you can now back order a domain name. If the name expires and becomes available, SnapNames is the best chance you have to get it registered, in your name, before anyone else can get it. Back order your name now!

Someone else has registered my company's name as a .com domain name. What is the process for resolving my complaint?

All ICANN-accredited registrars, of which Dotster our dotReseller Partner is, follow a uniform dispute resolution policy. Under that policy, disputes over entitlement to a domain-name registration are ordinarily resolved by court litigation between the parties claiming rights to the registration. Once the court rules who is entitled to the registration, the registrar will implement that ruling. In disputes arising from registrations allegedly made abusively (such as "cyber squatting" and "cyber piracy"), the uniform policy provides an expedited administrative procedure to allow the dispute to be resolved without the cost and delays often encountered in court litigation. In these cases, you can invoke the administrative procedure by filing a complaint with one of the dispute-resolution service providers listed at http://www.icann.org/udrp/approved-providers.htm. For more details on the uniform dispute resolution policy, see http://www.icann.org/udrp/udrp.htm.

Who has the domain name I want?

WHOIS (Who Is) is a tool that is used to look up domain name records in the registrar database. Each registrar maintains its own database so finding out exactly who owns an address has become quite tricky. However, an excellent site which allows you to perform a meta-whois search provides more specific registry information from most of the registrars. Results include the names of individuals and contact information. Visit www.better-whois.com for more detailed information. Also, consider trying our domain name back ordering and monitoring service to attempt to get the domain name you want in the event it expires.

Why should I register a domain name?

A domain name (Web address) is more than your Internet address, it's your Internet identity, your on-line brand. It puts you on the map of today's online world, opening you to literally millions of users worldwide. When you register a domain name, you'll join millions of others who are reaping the rewards of being online. Traditionally, web addresses are registered for business purposes but you don't have to be a business to own a domain name. Many more individuals are reserving domain names for a variety of purposes like keeping in touch with family members, registering a wedding to share information about hotels, directions, events, etc. or simply for an e-mail address that doesn't have to change time every time you change your ISP! There are numerous reasons for obtaining a domain name. Get yours today.

How much does a domain name cost?

At a big domain name registrar - 35 bucks. At WDBC - 15 dollars or less for most TLD extensions. Compare our prices to the big boys and just try to get them to respond to your questions in a reasonable time. Prices for domain names do vary, depending on the costs for obtaining that domain name from different countries, and providing and servicing that domain name for you. On Web Design by Cookie's site, all the global top-level domain names (.biz, .com, .info, .net, .org and .name) cost $12.99 - $15.00 per year. The .us ccTLD is also similarly priced. All domains are offered at discounted prices if the initial registration is over one year. The cost of country code TLDs varies greatly. Consult our current price list for yearly registration costs. Transfers are $9.75 and include a FREE 1 year registration extension.

When do I have to pay for my domain name?

Before your domain name becomes active, you must provide a credit card number as reasonable assurance of payment. This requirement enhances the availability of domain names by preventing them from being tied up by persons not intending to pay for registration. Your credit card will be charged in real time as "DOMAIN REGISTRATION" through our payment processor for all registrations initiated via the Web Design by Cookie site.

How do I register a domain name?

If the domain name (Web address) is available, we will walk you through six quick and easy registration steps. If the domain name is not available, you can perform another free search to find a name you like. Search as much as you want - it's free! The registration steps include:

1. Select Your Domain Name(s)
2. Choose your Domain Options
3. Define Your Domain Contacts
4. Define Your Name Server(s)
5. Define Your Billing Information
6. Registration Confirmation

How long does a domain registration last? Can it be renewed?

Web Design by Cookie offers initial and renewal domain name registrations in one-year increments, with a total registration period limit of ten years per ICANN specifications. Some domain names require an initial 2-year commitment, while others can be registered with only a 1-year commitment. We offer multi-year discounted pricing for our customers which can increase your savings by up to an additional 10% off our already low prices. Certain domains can be registered in 2-, 5-, or 10-year increments. Our renewal fees are the same price as the yearly registration fee for a given domain extension. Register your domain name now before its gone.

Can I change registrars after registering a domain name?

Yes, you may change the registrar sponsoring your domain name at any time more than sixty days after the initial registration. For details on the transfer process, contact the registrar you would like to assume sponsorship of the domain name registration. Some domain extensions require an authorization code to transfer your domain which can be obtained from the current sponsoring registrar. Web Design by Cookie offers low cost domain name transfer services starting at $12.75 for a .com, .org, .net, .biz, .info, and .us TLDs. When you transfer a domain, an extra year will be added on to it's existing expiration date. Transfer your domain's sponsorship to WDBC today and save!

What is NameSpin?

Namespin is a free interactive tool that takes 2 or 3 word suggestions and finds all available domains containing combinations of those words. It helps in brainstorming. Use this free utility to come up with suggestions for domain names. Try NameSpin now, its totally FREE.

What are all of these additional extensions?

An extension, or Top Level Domain (TLD), is the highest-level category of Internet names. The additional extension choices you see include many unrestricted global extensions, restricted TLDS, as well as unrestricted extensions that are available from specific countries. The extensions .com, .net, .org, .biz, and .info are examples of global Top Level Domains (gTLD). The extensions .cc (Cocos Islands), .cn (China), .uk (from Great Britain), .us (United States), fr (from France), .tv (from Tuvalu) and .ws (from Western Samoa) are examples of country code Top Level Domains (ccTLD). WDBC currently offers several country extensions including .bz, .cc, .cn, .nu, .sr, .tv, .us, and .ws ccTLDs as well as the more common global TLDs. Check back often, we're adding new TLDs all the time.

What is TransferLock?

Prevent unauthorized transfers of your domain names to other registrars with TransferLock. With TransferLock enabled, your domain names cannot be transferred unless you login to your account and unlock your domains. Sign up for this service by logging into your WDBC account.

What is NameSafe?

Designed to provide the ultimate in domain name security, NameSafe prevents account ownership updates, name server updates, contact updates, moving domains between accounts, and registrar transfers without authorization from the account owner through e-mail. Domains using NameSafe will be under locked status with the registry. Sign up for this product through the domain registration process or by logging into your WDBC domain name registration account.

What is URL Forwarding?

WDBC's URL Forwarding service is perfect for people who want to redirect their domain name to another web address which is too long or too hard to remember. WDBC offers three different types of URL Forwarding: masked/cloaked URL forwarding, unmasked URL forwarding, and masked/cloaked forwarding with a banner. Masked URL forwarding shows your domain name and put's the site's real content within a frame. The true address of the is hidden from the visitor. Unmasked URL forwarding shows the true address of the site that the domain is forwarding to. Banner forwarding includes a banner at the bottom of the page. With url forwarding, you are able to forward your domain name to any URL that you would like. You can sign up for URL forwarding during the initial registration process or by logging into your account.

What is Email Forwarding?

With our e-mail forwarding service, you will be able to create e-mail addresses for your domains and forward them to any other valid e-mail address. You can also add a "catch all" address that will forward any mail sent to your domain that does not have a valid e-mail address to an e-mail address of your choice. You can sign up for email forwarding during the initial registration process (and save by bundling this service) or by logging into your account and adding it later.

What is a Domain Name System (DNS) or Domain Name Server (DNS)?

The Domain Name System (DNS) helps users to find their way around the Internet. Every computer on the Internet has a unique address - just like a telephone number - which is a rather complicated string of numbers. It is called its "IP address" (IP stands for "Internet Protocol"). IP Addresses are hard to remember. The DNS makes using the Internet easier by allowing a familiar string of letters (the "domain name") to be used instead of the arcane IP address. So instead of typing 207.151.159.3, you can type www.internic.net. It is a "mnemonic" device that makes addresses easier to remember. During the registration process you will need to specify a Domain Name Server of your ISP which will host your site. If you do not know this information, simply wish to reserve the domain name, or want to utilize the url forwarding or e-mail services leave this as the default and we will forward your domain to our "Future Home" page until you find a host or are ready to use it. You can change the DNS information at any time later by logging into your account.

What is your Domain Name System (DNS) or Domain Name Server (DNS) Management service?

Our Web-Based DNS Management allows you to use name servers located at our facilities for your domain. Using your Internet browser you can add, remove, and edit Alias records (Host records), MX records (Mail Server records), NS records (Name Server Records), and CNAME records. You have total control over the DNS records for your domain, without the hassle or cost of maintaining your own DNS server. » More on DNS Management

Will my name and contact information be publicly available?

Yes. Information about who is responsible for domain names is publicly available to allow rapid resolution of technical problems and to permit enforcement of consumer protection, trademark, and other laws. The registrar will make this information available to the public on it's "WHOIS" site. We must send you an email annually to remind you that this information is up-to-date and ask that you make changes if necessary. You can opt out of including some of this information by selecting the appropriate opt-out feature from within your WDBC domain account.

Once I have a domain, what do I do with it?

Once you have a domain you can do lots of things. You can use it and develop a web site for your own personal or business use, use it for an e-mail address, sell it or simply reserve it for future use so no one else can register it! Web Design by Cookie will park your domain for free until you decide what you want to do with it. Web Design By Cookie also provides tools for you to develop an instant web site using our templates or we can work with you to develop a custom site for your business or organization based on your needs and specifications. If you just want an e-mail address, use our e-mail forwarding services or e-mail hosting services.

What is ICANN?

ICANN is the non-profit corporation that is assumes responsibility from the U.S. Government for coordinating certain Internet technical functions, including the management of Internet domain name system. The registrar that WDBC uses, Dotster, is an ICANN accredited registrar. More information about ICANN can be found at http://www.icann.org.

Who is WDBC?

Web Design by Cookie (WDBC) is a full service web site design and Internet consulting firm located in Hartford, Conn. We've been a proud member of the Better Business Bureau, Connecticut since 2001 and a Dotster domain name dotReseller. We have been in business since 1999 and provide our customers with hiqh quality, affordable, solutions to for today's online economy.

Adapted from the InterNIC FAQs on Domain Names, Registrars, and Registration