A Domain Name is an address that your website is connected to. Visitors can access your site when they type in your domain name on their browsers.

Websites and computers are made up of IP Addresses - a string of numbers separated by periods, e.g. 12.345.67.89. Domain names are user-friendly alternatives to these IP addresses. Users will have to type in a long series of numbers to access a particular site without them.

This makes domain names an essential requirement if you want to build your website.

Note: A domain name is not the same as a URL. It is simply a part of it. For example, our domain name is "sitebeat.com", but the URL is "https://www.sitebeat.com/".

Jump to the following topics to learn what you need about domain names:

• Breaking Down a Domain Name
• The Importance of a Domain Name
• Registering a Domain Name

Breaking Down a Domain Name

A domain name can be broken down into two parts: the Mid-Level Domain and the Top-Level Domain (TLD). At times, domain names can have a Subdomain.

Let’s dissect the domain name: "support.sitebeat.com"

• "sitebeat" – Mid-Level Domain
• ".com" – Top-Level Domain (also called domain name extensions)
• "support" – Subdomain

There are two types of domain name extensions, gTLD and ccTLD.

The .com and other popular TLDs like .net, .org, .gov, and .edu, are all examples of Generic TLDs (gTLDs). Some gTLDs are specific for your field or business, like .doctors or .design.

Country Code TLDs (ccTLDs) are generally reserved for a country, state, or territory, like .au for Australia, .sg for Singapore, .id for Indonesia, and more.

The Importance of a Domain Name

Your domain name serves as your online identity. Having a domain name is essential if you want to build a strong online presence. This can benefit professionals, businesses, and organisations that want to create a credible and trustworthy image online.

Registering a Domain Name

A domain name is unique. Simply put, no two domain names are the same in the world. It can only connect to a single website at a time.

To get your unique domain name, you need to register first from a registrar that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) — the governing body for all domain names accredits.

With Sitebeat, getting a domain name is quick and easy. If you’ve already signed up for Sitebeat Free, you will need to upgrade your plan to get your domain name for free. Refer to the following steps:

1. Log In to access the Sitebeat dashboard.
2. Click Get Full Access at the top-right section of the dashboard.
3. Click on a preferred Sitebeat plan period.
4. Click the Select button corresponding to the plan that you want.
   

   Note: If you've also signed up for the 15-day Sitebeat eCommerce free trial via your Sitebeat Free Account and you want to continue using your store, ensure that you upgrade to the Sitebeat eCommerce or SitebeatPRO eCommerce plan.

5. Click Claim Free Domain to register a new domain name for free.
   

   Note: If you select Claim Free Domain, you can still connect Sitebeat to a different domain later by contacting us. If you select Use Existing Domain, you will no longer be able to claim the free domain that is included in your Sitebeat plan once the payment has been made.

6. Enter the new Domain Name that you wish to register for free, and then click Select.
7. Review your cart. Click the [v] Arrow Icon beside 1 year or the period you selected earlier if you need to change it.
8. Click the Pay Securely button to pay for and activate your Sitebeat plan upgrade.

You’ve just learned about domain names. Learn all about the Domain Name System and how web browsers communicate by clicking here. Or, learn how you can get started with your new Sitebeat website here.