Contents
The Role of a Domain Name Registrar
What is a domain name registrar In the vast universe of the Internet? It is a service provider that reserves and handles Internet domain names.
These domain names function like addresses that help users locate your website. For instance, Microsoft uses “microsoft.com” as its domain name.
Accreditation and Oversight
The Internet Corporation officially accredits these domain name registrars for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) or a national ccTLD authority. ICANN is a nonprofit entity overseeing and maintaining several online databases associated with the Internet’s namespaces and numerical spaces. It ensures the network’s stability and secure operation.
How Domain Registration Works
To simplify the concept, when you use a registrar to register a domain name, you buy the rights to use that name for a specific period, typically one to ten years. You can keep your rights to the domain name by renewing your registration before it expires. If not, the domain name becomes available for others to purchase.
Additional Services Offered by Domain Name Registrars
Many popular registrars don’t stop at just reserving domain names. They often offer added perks to their clientele. For instance, domain privacy shields your private details, and domain parking allows you to save a domain name for later. There’s domain name transfer if you want to shift your domain to a different provider. Some registrars go a step further, providing web and email hosting services.
Registrars can also provide services like:
DNS Hosting: Domain Name System (DNS) hosting is a service that handles the mapping between domain names and IP addresses. In other words, it translates your human-friendly domain name into a machine-friendly IP address. Many domain name registrars provide DNS hosting services.
SSL Certificates: Security is a critical factor in online operations. An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate encrypts the data between your website and visitors, making it harder for attackers to tamper with the information. Many registrars offer SSL certificates, often as an additional service.
Email Hosting: Email hosting is another service provided by many registrars, which allows you to use a registered domain name with a custom email address, for example, [email protected].
Website Builders: Some registrars also offer website builder tools. These user-friendly platforms let you design and build your website, often with a simple drag-and-drop interface, which can be a great resource if you’re new to website creation.
Read More
You can read more about domain name registrars on Wikipedia and about registrars on CloudFlare.
Conclusion
So, what is a registrar? It is a crucial player in the Internet’s vast landscape, providing critical services that enable us to navigate the web easily.
If you find any mistakes or have ideas for improvement, please follow the email on the Contact page.