Let us now look at the next question, what are domain names?
On the previous page, we started tackling the question by discussing how computers identify and communicate with each other using IP addresses that are numerical in nature.
Today, let's us tackle the question from a human point of view.
Instead of using IP addresses, most internet users use domain names to easily find and communicate with websites and other server-based services.
In other words, domain names are friendlier to most of us because they're not only easier to say but are also easier to memorize as compared to numbers.
The reason we register a domain name to use instead of IP addresses is that they're closer to our language and therefore easier to identify and remember.
What Are Domain Names? Simple Activity
Which is easier to speak out or memorize?
- Go to 64.233.167.99
- Or Go to www.google.com
Okay go ahead speak it out...
Now, look at it again and then try to give the above IP address or the domain name to your friend. Which of the above two did you prefer over the other? 64.233.167.99 or www.google.com?
What are Domain Names?
If I may ask you, what are domain names?
Before you go further on this, let us briefly look at an URL.
URL is an abbreviation that stands for uniform resource locator and it is the same throughout the world. Here is a simple example.
URL= http:www.nikenya.com/Nikenya-Site-Map.html
The above URL consist of:
- http: Which is the Protocol
- www: Which is the host computer name
- Nikenya: Is the domain name
- .com: Is the domain type
- / Is the path
- Nikenya-Site-Map.html: Is the file name
It is also important to note here that the url is actually a set of four numbers that are separated by periods.
Finally, let us bring it all together in…
Answering The Question, What Are Domain Names?
Computers communicate to each other using an IP address that is numeric in nature.
To make it easier for ourselves, human beings use domain names that are more descriptive and easy to remember when referring to a given IP address.
The DNS -- Internet Domain Name System then translates the alphanumerical (domain names) address to numeric (IP address).
You can read more about what are domain names here.
Next, let us now look at the type of domain names.
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