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You can obtain a web address aka domain name through several methods as an initial step in establishing an online presence. A domain name, commonly known as a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), is the character string you enter in a web browser to find a specific web page.
Parts of a web address
A browser locates a web page only when the web address follows established standards. A basic domain name includes a scheme name, the server or website name, and the domain name. Most web addresses use the scheme name “HTTP://” (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), which defines how the browser communicates with the website. The server or website name appears before the dot, and the domain name follows it, such as “com,” “edu,” “net,” or “org.”
The Domain Name System (DNS) organizes domain names into different hierarchies, including generic top-level domains (TLDs), country code top-level domains (ccTLDs), and subdomains. TLDs are widely recognized and include domains like “com,” “info,” “net,” “edu,” “gov,” and “org,” which the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) administers. ccTLDs represent specific countries, such as “us” for the United States, “jp” for Japan, and “uk” for the United Kingdom. The Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), a department of ICANN, oversees ccTLDs. Other domain groups include infrastructure and sponsored top-level domains. These TLDs and ccTLDs are often called extensions when referring to a full web address or domain name.
Step 1 – Determining the domain name
To get a web address, you must first determine the domain name or extension you wish to acquire and then choose the web address portion to register. Some domain names, like ccTLDs, are assigned based on the country where the website is registered. Other domain names reserved for specific types of businesses or entities. For example, the edu extension is reserved for colleges and universities. The gov extension is limited to U.S. governmental agencies and entities. The mil extension is restricted to U.S. military institutions.
Many domain names, known as open TLDs, are available for anyone to register. Other TLDs are restricted to particular groups designated by ICANN.
Step 2 – Getting a web address
Now that you have explained the domain names (extensions), you should determine the actual web server or website name. This portion of the web address will identify the business, person, or entity, such as johnsmith.com, joesbarbershop.com, or smithsflorist.net. To check if the desired web name is available, visit a web hosting or domain registration company. These companies provide a convenient way to look up the desired website name and verify its availability.
Host Otter is one of the leading domain registration and web hosting companies. You can enter the desired domain name into a search box to check its availability. If the name is taken, the Network Solutions site suggests similar domain names that are currently available. You can also search by the specific extension you want to use. Often, a website is actually registered with one domain but not others.
For example, joesbarbershop.com might already be registered, but joesbarbershop.biz could still be available. Since .com extensions are the most popular, they tend to become unavailable the fastest. Even though both addresses include joesbarbershop, each is a unique web address that will lead to a different web page. For this reason, many larger businesses register all the different domains with their website name to ensure customers can find their site. It also helps protect them from other companies stealing their customers.
Step 3 – Hosting the web address
To have an active web page on the Internet, you must host it on a web hosting service. Many web hosting companies, such as HostOtter.com, myhosting.com, and 1and1.com, offer services that allow users to host their web pages and register a web address. These hosting services often provide free web hosting if a user registers their domain name with the company, or they may offer domain name registration at a low price if the user hosts their web pages with them.
These services also offer many tools to help new users create and develop their web pages. Many hosting companies provide preset templates and tools that simplify website creation for beginners. As the website owner’s needs grow, they can also access more advanced products and services.
Once you register a web address and choose a web hosting service, you can upload your web pages. After uploading the pages to a hosting company’s servers, search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo will typically index them. This allows the public to find your new website. Sharing the web address on social media sites such as X, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram also helps users access your page.
While this article has provided a lot of background on web address components, getting a web address is neither hard nor expensive. It simply involves determining the web address name, registering it, selecting a web hosting service, and uploading the web pages to the site.