What Is a Domain Name & How Does a Person Get One?

Use easy-to-remember names to attract large audiences to any given website.

A domain name is essentially a nickname given to an Internet address. Domain names are assigned as registrations of such take place. As of October 2010, DomainTools.com reports more than 123 million active domain names on the Internet.

Usage

A domain name replaces the technical term behind a web server, which consists of an Internet Protocol (IP) address. For example, the Small Business Administration's domain name is sba.gov, which replaces the technical web server address behind it.

New Name Acquisition

To successfully obtain a domain name, it must be unique and registered through a Web hosting organization, often known as a domain registrar. These sources allow you to search for available names and register them by following given instructions.

Used Name Acquisition

In the event a desired domain name is already in use by a third-party company or sole proprietor, you can visit domain auction websites, which resell expired domain names. Once a desired website address is found, follow all required registration instructions from the auction source.

References

• Keyt Law: How to Obtain a Domain Name
• Domain Tools: Domain Counts & Internet Statistics