What is a Domain Name?

Let us start this guide by looking at the simple question; what is a domain name?
The question may seem quite simple and obvious to the web savvy.

But to the majority of us,

Well…that might be another Greek term.

A domain name is an IP address on the internet which helps people to find websites. I just mentioned an IP address, right!…so then the next logical question should be; what is an IP address?

An IP address is an abbreviation that stands for internet protocol. In other words it is a unique string of numbers usually shown in groups separated by periods.

Here is an example of an IP address – 64.233.167.99.

Computers connected on the internet communicate with each other using an IP address. Whenever a given computer wants to send data to another computer, it uses the IP address to locate and find the other computer.

Simple activity to help us answer the questions – What is a Domain Name?

For a moment just imagine you are a computer. Now imagine you need to communicate with another computer with an IP address 64.233.167.99

Go ahead copy and paste or type the following number into your browser:

64.233.167.99

What page came up? Were you surprised?

Well that is IP address assigned to them. That is exactly how computer identify and communicate with each other. (We will talk about the DNS–Domain name system) later.

Finally,

Just imagine trying to remember an IP address like “Go to 64.233.167.99 or 216.109.112.135 to search the internet” If you are like most of us, then remembering such numerical numbers soon becomes a difficult task to do.

It also sound really weird or creepy to tell your friend to go to 64.233.167.99 to check out a particular great story or deal. Mmm….just don’t sound right. What do you think – go check out 64.233.167.99!

So far we have seen that computers use an IP address to identify other computers as a distinct alphabetical address. Well that is how creepy computers work. How about us?