A domain name is the human-friendly address used to access a website on the internet.
Instead of remembering a long numeric IP address (such as 192.168.xxx.xxx), users can type a simple name like:
yourbusiness.com
This makes it easier for people to find and remember your website.
How Does a Domain Name Work?
When someone types your domain name into a browser:
1. The browser sends a request to the Domain Name System (DNS).
2. DNS translates the domain name into the server’s IP address.
3. The browser connects to that server.
4. Your website loads on the screen.
Think of DNS as the internet’s phonebook — it matches names to numbers.
Structure of a Domain Name
A domain name is made up of two main parts:
example.com
│ └── TLD (Top-Level Domain)
└────────── Domain Name
Domain Name (Second-Level Domain)
This is the unique name you register (e.g., example, yourbrand).
TLD (Top-Level Domain)
This is the extension at the end, such as:
.com
.net
.org
.my
Domain Name vs Website — Are They the Same?
No, a domain name is not the same as a website.
A domain name is the address that people type into their browser to visit your site, while web hosting is the service that stores your website’s files and makes them available on the internet. You can think of the domain name as your shop’s name or signboard, and the hosting as the physical shop where everything actually operates.
A domain name must be registered so that it is uniquely assigned to you, whereas a website must be hosted on a server to be accessible to visitors.
To make a website available online, you need both a domain name and web hosting working together.
Why Do You Need a Domain Name?
A domain name helps you:
- Build a professional online identity
- Make your website easy to remember
- Create branded email addresses (e.g., [email protected])
- Establish credibility for your business
- Promote your brand consistently
Example of Domain Usage
If your business name is “ABC Services”:
Domain Name: abcservices.com
Website: Hosted on a server connected to that domain
Email: [email protected]
Without the domain, customers would need to remember a numeric IP address, which is impractical.
Notes:
Domain names must be registered annually and renewed to remain active.
Once registered, no one else can use the same domain name.