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With the World Wide Web, all websites have a unique Domain Name or a URL Uniform Resource Locator. These URLs are assigned a set of unique numbers called IP numbers or Internet Protocol Numbers. All Web Servers use this individual I.P. address to identify and connect the Website to the end-users: You, the Internet surfer.
While one cannot normally choose or change the I.P. Address of the Website. We can select a Domain and the domain ending extension, TLD
For a simple example, a domain name is our postal address and the TLDs could be called the zip code.
Our website address or domain name is similar to a Contact entry in a phone book. We assign a Name to a Number and use the contact's name to connect the phone number to the entity. We can choose what we want to save the contact name as, but the phone number stays the same. Similarly, we can select our domain name but not the I.P. address.
Find out instantly if your Domain Name is available.
Then register it before someone else grabs it.
All domain names has a simple structure made of several different parts. Normally separated by dots.
Technically domains are read from right to left and labeled. The right-most label conveys the top-level domain, (TLD). The second-level domain (SLD) is normally a descriptive name. Domains are not limited to just TLD's and SLD's. Additional "subdomains" can be created in order to provide additional information about various functions of a server or to delimit areas under the same domain. For example, www is a commonly used subdomain to indicate the domain points to a web server. Another example of a subdomain is blog.hubspot.com. Where "blog" would be the subdomain.
URL stands for "Uniform Resource Locator". Technically It contains all parts including the network communication protocol (HTTPS 0r HTTP), Subdomain, Domain Name, and the extension. An example of a URL is the complete domain https://rshweb.com/.
Please see our blog post on URL's for more information
Top level Domain - Second level Domain.
Every domain name has two parts, just like a phone number
With phone numbers, the area code comes first. With domains, the Area Code, or what we refer to as the Top level domain comes last.
Let us look at rshweb.com as an example
rshweb.com is the complete domain name
The .com is the top level part of a Domain and the rshweb is the second level part of the Domain name
The nice part of Domains is you can choose the phone number as well as the area code.
Top Level Domains add specifics to the domain name or the Website
TLDs can denote the Country of the Website, the purpose of the Website, and even services provided through the Website. Most website owners have their preferences for the Domain they want for their business, and more often than not, they opt for the ones directly matching their registered businesses and brand name. While the Second Level Domain takes care of the title, the Top Level Domain can add more specifics about a business.
And yes, the good old .com is still the most popular, but most of the good ones are taken.
TLDs are stored in the root zone of the Domain Name System of the Internet or the DNS databases. The creation of TLDs during the initial years of the Domain Naming System aimed at stabilizing this through categorization. TLDs today are being used in various ways to attract and help the owners and the end-users alike.
There are three types of TLDs, as assigned by IANA and ICANN and officially recognized worldwide.
gTLD - Generic Top Level Domains
sTLD - Sponsored Top Level Domains
ccTLD - Country Code Top Level Domains.
In the past, the selection of TLDs was limited. Prior to the change in ICANN policy, there were only about 20 gTLDs. There are now over 1200 TLDs to choose from. You can view all at the IANA website.
Although the vast majority of Domains registered are still of the gTLD category. Other domain extensions are rapidly growing.
Examples of these are:.
.com - Commercial
.org - Organization
.net - Networking
.info- Information
.edu - Education
.gov - Government
In 2011 ICANN opened the door for companies and organizations to register their own gTLDs, which greatly expanded the list of gTLDs and explains why we now also have gTLDs like:.
.agency
.bike
.cash
.church
.business
.racing.
These are top level domains that represent specific countries. A partial list of these domain extensions are:.
.it Italy
.jp Japan
.mx Mexico
.pa Panama
.sa Saudi Arabia
.se Sweden
.ca Switzerland
.uk United Kingdom
.us United States
With over 1200 generic TLDs to choose from. Finding the one that best matches your Website might be a confusing task. While the number of generic TLDs offers excellent options, there are a few options that one might like to consider before deciding on the TLD best matching the business.
ICANN has created rules and regulations that TLDs need to follow. These TLDs are divided and assigned to other organizations, known as Registries. Registries oversee the day-to-day operations and management of these TLDs, ranging from pricing to promotions to any additional regulations and restrictions.
You will also not be able to choose any domain name or TLD that you want. There will be rules you will need to follow. Based on regulations from ICANN.
For example the German domain registrar requires you to be a citizen on Germany
For other popular domain names there are also different rules for registration
See the Registry websites listed below.
A domain extension has to be relevant to the type of business. For example, .gallery might be a great option for an art gallery. It probably would not be fitting for a .bar or a .coffee shop.
Geographical location, age, and preferences of target consumers must be considered while choosing a TLD. A locally sold product in your country will do great with a country code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD). But a generic name (gTLD) such as .party might do well for the young consumers.
The .org Domains would also work very nice for a Non Profit Organization.
Why Is the URL Structure Important For SEO? They can have 3 main benefits. • Provides An Improved User Experience • Ranking Factors • Links or Anchor Text
Some domains or TLDs can be nightmares for Search Engine Optimization. This is mainly due to the cheap cost, and Spammers snatch up these domains. Other bad domain extensions according to Spamhaus are:
.gq - the country code for Equatorial Guinea
.cf - the country code for the Central African Republic
.ml - a domain based in Mali controlled by a telecommunications company
.ga - the country code for the Gabonese Republic
.men - one of the 2015 wave of initial new top level domains
.loan - another of the initial 2015 wave
.date - another 2015 domain, though one that was initially recommended to be denied
.top - a Chinese TLD initially created in 2014
.bid - another topic focused domain initially created in 2014, aimed at auction sites.
All TLDs come with a price, and one must take into account the budget earmarked for TLDs. Domains are more than just URL extensions. They add value to the Website in ways more than one. With thousands of options to choose from, one can now dare to be different from the .com with very good results.
Your domain name is your online identity. Here are some tips for selecting the perfect one:
Understanding domain names and URL structures is fundamental for anyone building a website.
By following best practices and optimizing these elements for SEO, you can improve user experience, boost search engine rankings, and achieve your online goals. Invest time in crafting the perfect domain name and a well-structured URL, your website’s success depends on it!
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Comments (1)
Nice breakdown, This post makes domain names so easy to understand for newbies. I like the analogy of domains as street addresses. Q: Any tips for choosing between .com and newer TLDs like .shop for a small business? Thanks for the clear info.
Thanks for the feedback. For a small business, .com is ideal for credibility and customer trust (74% prefer it). Choose .shop if it fits your brand (e.g., e-commerce) and targets a niche audience. Keep it short, memorable, and brand-aligned to maximize impact, regardless of TLD.