Beginner · 8 lessons

Domains

A domain name is your website's address on the internet — like google.com or yourbrand.in. Domains are registered through registrars (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.) and must be renewed annually. The domain connects to your hosting via DNS nameserver settings.

Key Concepts

TLDs (.com, .in, .io) Domain Registrar WHOIS Nameservers Domain Transfer Subdomains Domain Privacy Expiration & Renewal

Key Takeaways

✓ Register domains through accredited registrars; .com remains the most trusted TLD.
✓ Point nameservers to your hosting provider to connect domain to server.
✓ Enable domain privacy to hide personal info from public WHOIS lookups.
✓ Set auto-renewal — expired domains can be lost or snapped up by others.

Lessons in This Topic

What is a Domain Name?

Human-readable addresses for the internet.

Computers use IP addresses (like 93.184.216.34), but humans remember names. Domain names have a hierarchy: root → TLD (.com) → domain (example) → subdomain (www). ICANN governs the domain system. You lease a domain; you never truly own it forever without renewal.

TLDs Explained: .com, .org, .in, .io

Choose the right extension for your project.

.com is universal and trusted for businesses. .org suits nonprofits. Country codes like .in (India) or .uk boost local SEO. .io is popular with tech startups. New gTLDs like .dev, .app, .blog offer niche branding. Some TLDs have registration restrictions.

Registering & Managing Domains

Registrar accounts, DNS settings, and renewals.

Create an account with a registrar, search for available names, and purchase for 1–10 years. After purchase, set nameservers to your host (e.g., ns1.hostinger.com). Manage DNS records in registrar or hosting panel. Enable two-factor auth on your registrar account — domains are high-value targets.

Subdomains & Wildcard DNS

blog.example.com, shop.example.com, *.example.com.

Subdomains partition your site: blog.yoursite.com for WordPress, api.yoursite.com for backend, staging.yoursite.com for testing. Create them via A or CNAME records. Wildcard DNS (*.example.com) routes all subdomains to one IP — useful for multi-tenant SaaS.

Domain Transfers & Expiration

Move domains between registrars safely.

To transfer: unlock domain, get EPP/auth code, initiate transfer at new registrar. Transfers take 5–7 days. Never let domains expire — grace periods vary; after redemption period you may lose the domain permanently. Set calendar reminders 30 days before expiry.