What Does 'Specific Domain Does Not Exist' Mean

Domain names are used on the Internet to access Web pages located all over the world. A functioning website has a registered domain name, but failure to properly register and configure a domain name will result in specific error messages. It is important to not only register but renew domain names in a timely manner, otherwise error messages such as "domain does not exist" will appear in the browser.

Domain Is Not Registered

The message that a domain name does not exist would mean that the specific domain name has not yet been registered and is available for registration to the public.

Domain Name Has Not Been Renewed

Domain name companies offer a 30-day grace period after a domain name has expired. If the specific domain name is not renewed, it goes into expiration status and then into redemption. Once redemption period is over, which can last up to 90 days, the domain is dropped from the database and made available for public registration.

Registration Payment Delays

A domain name registration order has to be paid for, because a company will register the specific domain name. If you are submitting a payment through the mail or a pending PayPal e-check, the funds have to clear into the company's bank account before they will register your domain and e-mail the log-in details to you.

Domain Name Propagation

Once a domain name is registered, two Domain Name System (DNS) addresses are required to point the domain name to a specific Web hosting account. This is called "propagation," and it can take 24 hours for a domain name to propagate.

Domain Registration and Web Hosting

A Web hosting account is where the actual Web files, graphics, HTML and CSS documents are stored. A domain name is the URL that a person will use to access the website. You can upload files to a Web hosting account, but the domain must be registered and propagated before it will display the website.