If you're getting a website built for the first time, you'll quickly run into terms like "domain name," "hosting," "DNS," and "registrar." They sound technical. The basics are pretty simple. Let's start with the most fundamental one: the domain name.
The simple version
A domain name is the address people type into a browser to get to your website. For Webspansion, the domain is getwebspansion.org. If someone types that into their browser, they land on this site.
That's it. A domain name is an address for a website.
Why "domain name" instead of just "address"?
Technically, websites live at numerical IP addresses, something like 192.0.2.1. Those numbers aren't easy to remember, so the internet uses domain names as human-readable labels that map to those numbers. When you type a domain into your browser, it looks up the corresponding IP address behind the scenes and takes you there. You never see the numbers.
Domain names were invented to make the internet easier to use. They worked.
What the parts of a domain name mean
A domain name has a few parts. Take getwebspansion.org as an example:
- getwebspansion, this is the unique part you choose. It's the name of your site.
- .org, this is the "top-level domain" or TLD. Common ones are .com.org.net.co, and increasingly many others like .io.shop.studio, and so on.
The domain name as a whole, everything including the dot and extension, is what you register and own.
Do you own a domain name forever?
No, you rent it, usually annually. You register a domain through a registrar (companies like Namecheap, GoDaddy, Google Domains, Cloudflare) and pay a fee every year to keep it. If you stop paying, the domain can expire and someone else can register it. Most registrars offer automatic renewal so you don't accidentally lose your domain.
Typical domain costs range from about $10–$20 per year for common extensions like .com or .org. Some extensions cost more.
Does Webspansion register a domain for me?
Webspansion handles design, code, and launch. Domain registration is a small cost (usually $10–15/year) that clients handle themselves, though I can walk you through exactly how to do it. If you already have a domain, I work with that. If you don't, I help you figure out what to get.
What makes a good domain name?
Short, easy to spell, and easy to say out loud. If you have to explain the spelling every time someone asks for your website address, it's too complicated. Your business name or a close variation of it usually works best. Avoid hyphens if you can, they're easy to forget and look less professional.
Common questions about domain names
How much does a domain name cost?+
Common extensions like .com or .org usually run about $10–$20 per year. Some newer or premium extensions cost more. You pay that fee yearly to keep the domain registered.
Do I need a domain name to have a website?+
No. You can launch on a free Webspansion subdomain at no cost. A custom domain, your own name like yourbusiness.com, is optional and makes the address fully yours, but it isn't required to get online.
Do I own a domain name forever?+
No, you rent it, usually one year at a time, through a registrar like Namecheap, Cloudflare, or GoDaddy. As long as you keep renewing it, it stays yours. Turning on auto-renew means you won't lose it by forgetting to pay.
Does Webspansion register the domain for me?+
Webspansion covers design, code, and launch. You register the domain yourself (usually $10–15/year), and I'll walk you through exactly how. If you already have a domain, I'll work with it.
What makes a good domain name?+
Short, easy to spell, and easy to say out loud. Your business name or a close variation usually works best. Avoid hyphens, they're easy to forget and look less professional.
Read more: What is SEO in normal words?
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