FAQs  >  Domain Name Basics

Domain name basics are covered in this section of our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). This section will answer all of your basic domain name questions.

  
How do domain names work? (domain name basics)

A domain name basically works like an address forwarding service.

All of your web site content sits on a computer with a unique address. This is called an IP address. An IP address is made up of a series of numbers, such as 123.23.234.45. Your domain name directs visitors to your site using this IP address.

We use domain names instead of IP addresses because most people find it easier to remember a name rather than a series of numbers.
  

What is a top-level domain (TLD)? (domain name basics)

A top-level domain (TLD) is the basic part of the domain name located to the right of the dot (" . "). The most common top-level domains are .com, .net, and .org. Some other popular top-level domains are .biz, .info, .name, and .ws. These common top-level domains have certain guidelines attached, but are for the most part available to any registrant, anywhere in the world.

There are also restricted top-level domains (rTLDs), like .aero, .biz, .edu, .mil, .museum, .name, .ca, .bk, and .pro, that require the registrant to represent a certain type of entity or country, or to belong to a certain community. For example, the .name TLD is reserved for individuals and .edu is reserved for educational entities.
  

What is a second-level domain (SLD)? (domain name basics)

Located immediately to the left of the dot (" . "), the second-level domain is the readable part of the domain name. The registrant defines the second-level domain. It typically refers to the organization or entity associated with the IP address. For example, in www.cnn.com "cnn" is a second-level domain.
  

Checking if a Domain Name is Available (domain name basics)

1. Go to our domain name registration home page.

2. In the Enter a domain name search box, type in the domain name you are interested in.

3. Select a top-level domain from the drop-down list (.com, .org, .net).

4. Click Search.
     

What do I do with my domain name once it's been registered? (domain name basics)

Setup a web site. In order to setup a website you will need to do the following:

1. Buy a web hosting account. Providers are located here.

2. Create web pages for your web site.

   1. Website Creation Software

   2. Templates

   3. Website Design Companies

3. Upload your web pages to your web hosting account.

Sell it. Domain names can be a great investment. If you have registered a domain name that you are not using, maybe someone else can. Go to the our domain name registration home page to login and set up a For Sale parked page for your domain name. Don't forget to include your contact information.

Protect your brand online. The more domain names you register, the better. Prevent others from registering a similar domain name to yours—just to steal your customers. What to do with all these names? Forward them to your main domain name.

Hold on to it. Maybe you haven’t decided what to do with your new domain name. You can leave it parked with sslcatacombnetworking.com for the length of your registration.
  

Can I register a domain name without having a web hosting provider yet?  (domain name basics)

Yes, you can register as many domain names as you'd like and choose to have them parked until you find a hosting provider.
  

Which domain extensions or TLDs (top-level domains) are available?

We currently offer these top-level domains:

Do you offer .name registrations?

Yes. This is the world's first domain exclusively for individuals. With .name you can create a single and permanent digital identity using your own personal name. It is easy to remember and perfect for a personal web site to communicate with family and friends.
  

Who qualifies for a .us domain name?  (domain name basics)

The U.S. Nexus Requirement ensures that only individuals or organizations that have a substantive connection to the United States can register .us domain names. To qualify for a .us domain name you must meet one of the following Nexus Requirements:

• A natural person (i) who is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States of America or any of its possessions or territories, or (ii) whose primary place of domicile is in the United States of America or any of its possessions,or

• An entity or organization that is (i) incorporated within one of the fifty (50) U.S. states, the District of Columbia, or any of the United States possessions or territories or (ii) organized or otherwise constituted under the laws of a state of the United States of America, the District of Columbia or any of its possessions or territories,or

• An entity or organization (including a federal, state, or local government of the United States, or a political subdivision thereof) that has a bona fide presence in the United States.
    

How can you charge so much less for domain name registrations than other registrars?

 We are a fully accredited Registrar of domain names. ICANN, the governing body of domain names, has approved us as a registrar. Our registration services compete directly with those of Network Solutions/Verisign and Register.com.

There are no hidden fees and no gimmicks. We do not make you use our hosting services with your domain name. We are able to offer these prices by accepting lower profit margins than others might be inclined to, and by striving to keep our operations efficient.
  

If I register a domain name from you, will I be listed as its registrant?

Any public domain registration that you register through us will have your name as the registrant, just as if you had registered it through any other ICANN certified Registrar. You will be able to change all four contact fields for the domain whenever you want.
  

Can I change a domain name or get a refund if I misspelled it when I ordered it?  (domain name basics)

Unfortunately, we are unable to change or edit the spelling of a domain name after it has been registered.
  

I just registered a new domain name. How long until I can use it? (domain name basics)

New domains and changes to domains may take up to 4-8 hours for .COM and .NET domains and about 24-48 hours for all other domain extensions to become effective. This is due to the number of networks involved, and the fact that several different agencies control those networks. This delay applies to all domains and all registrars.
  

What does it mean to park a domain name?  (domain name basics)

When you park a domain name you are reserving your registered domain until you have created your Web site, found a hosting provider, or sold the domain to a third party. When you park your domain, a temporary Web page displays whenever somebody types your domain name in their browser.
  

Unparking (Activating) Your Domain Name  (domain name basics)

To Unpark (Activate) Your Domain Name

1. Log in at our domain name registration home page.

2. Under the Domain Names section, select Manage Domains.

3. Click on the domain you want to unpark.

4. In the Domain Details section on the right, click the plus sign next to Namservers Summary to expand it.

5. Select Click here to see details or to modify.

6. Select Custom Name Servers and enter the name servers that you would like your domain name to point to.

7. Click Save Changes.

This concludes the Domain Name Basics FAQ.

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