What is a domain name?

A domain name is the human-friendly address of a website, like yourdomain.co.uk. Computers find each other by IP address; the domain is the name that points to one.

The parts of a domain

Reading shop.yourdomain.co.uk from right to left:

• .co.uk — the top-level domain (TLD). Others include .com, .uk, .org and .dev.
• yourdomain — the part you choose and register.
• shop — a subdomain, which you can create freely once you own the domain. How to create a subdomain

Registering one

Domains are rented from a registrar, usually a year at a time. You own the right to use the name for as long as you keep renewing it. Let it lapse and someone else can register it. What happens when a domain expires?

How it connects to hosting

The registrar records which nameservers are in charge of your domain’s DNS. Point those nameservers at your host, and the host’s DNS tells the world where your website and email live.

1. Register the domain.
2. Set its nameservers to ns1.traxio.co.uk, ns2.traxio.co.uk and ns3.traxio.co.uk.
3. Traxio’s DNS then directs visitors to your hosting.

How to point your domain to Traxio (change nameservers) walks through it.

Domain tips

• Register for yourself, in your own name, with an email address you’ll always have access to.
• Turn on auto-renew and keep the payment card up to date.
• Keep the registrar login somewhere safe: losing it is far worse than losing hosting.