Understanding the Parts of a Domain
A domain name is your website’s address on the internet, and it’s broken into two parts: the top-level and second-level domain. Understanding the role of each is key to feeling confident establishing your online business presence.
The Basics of a Domain
At its most basic, a domain or domain name is the string of characters you type in your internet browser’s address bar to go to a specific website. Our domain is registeredagentsinc.com. Other examples of domains include:
- example.com
- irs.gov
- wikipedia.org
Domain names must be unique. Not only does this help people distinguish them from one another, it also helps your computer find the right location. Behind the scenes, when you enter a domain name into your browser, the Domain Name System looks up the unique IP address associated with the website at that domain. We’ll get into this in a little more detail when we talk about the difference between a domain and a website.
For now, let’s take a closer look at the components of a domain.
The Different Parts of a Domain
Each domain has two main parts: a top-level domain, and a second-level domain. The top-level domain follows the rightmost dot, and the second-level domain precedes it. Together, these are sometimes called the root domain, from which subdomains (also called third-level domains) can branch.
Domains are organized hierarchically, beginning with the broadest, highest-order level and descending from right to left toward the most narrow, lowest-order level. Each part is separated by full stops, or dots, as in www(.)registeredagentsinc(.)com.
Top-level domains (TLDs)
Also called domain extensions, top-level domains are the most broad and generic part of a domain name. Originally designed to categorize websites by type—.com for commercial, .net for networks, and so on—TLDs today are organized into several purposes:
- Generic top-level domains (gTLDs), including new gTLDs like .shop and old standbys like .com
- Brand top-level domains (bTLDs), most often operated by multinational conglomerates like .google
- Generic restricted top-level domains (grTLDs), a handful of extensions requiring proof of eligibility to register like .biz and .pro
- Sponsored top-level domains (sTLDs), just over a dozen extensions sponsored by delegates of specific industries or communities, like .post and .travel
- Country code top-level domains (ccTLDs), two-character extensions intended to represent a specific country like .uk or .ph
The number of top-level domains has grown far beyond the original six in use in the 1980s. Today there are thousands of possibilities business owners may consider to complement their brand.
Second-level domains (SLDs)
When most people choose a domain name, they usually mean the second-level domain. This customizable part of the domain, sandwiched between the top-level domain and the subdomain or protocol, ideally contains your brand or business name, or some variation of it. A solid brand recognition strategy recognizes this part as an opportunity to create a positive first impression with your customers.
There are three simple strategies for naming your domain:
Keep it short and simple.
Ideal domain names are fewer than 15 characters, easy to spell, and easy to pronounce. Try to avoid numbers and hyphens to avoid confusing people.
Align your domain with your brand.
Cohesive brand identity reinforces consumer trust and builds loyalty. Secure a domain name that reflects your brand if you can—think google.com, not searchengine.com.
Choose the right TLD.
Nearly half the global internet uses .com as a popular, credible extension, but it’s far from the only one available. Improve memorability with a trustworthy TLD that complements your brand.
Subdomains (third-level domains)
A subdomain branches from the root domain to organize a website into separate sections. A well-organized website creates a better visitor experience, boosting brand reputation.
Although subdomains are optional, there are a few common ones:
www: short for World Wide Web, typically included by default
shop: products, shopping cart, credit card processor, and anything else for online sales
blog: short-form content designed to promote community engagement
m: commonly signals a site optimized for mobile devices
Note that a subdomain differs from a subdirectory. Both are methods to structure your website. The most obvious difference is their location. A subdomain sits to the left of the second-level domain, separated from the SLD by a dot. A subdirectory is found to the right of the top-level domain following a slash.
Let’s look at the URL for this web page as an example:
https://www.registeredagentsinc.com/domain-name/parts
You can see that the www is our subdomain, and /domain-name is our subdirectory. This subdirectory contains multiple web pages related to our domains content.
It’s also important to know that unlike subdirectories, subdomains are functionally separate websites from a site structure perspective. This can be a useful feature for companies with complex websites that benefit from the enhanced organization options. However, the average small business owner should be aware that subdomains translate to more maintenance and management.
Clearing Up Common Misconceptions
It’s not just you—the world of domains can be a confusing place, especially when you’re first starting out. Let’s address two very common misconceptions.
Is a domain the same thing as a website?
No, a domain is not the same as a website. If a domain is an address, a website is the house located at that address. You can have an address for an empty plot of land (a domain name) and build a home on it when you’re ready (a website).
The domain hosts a website, and the website maps to at least one IP address. When you enter a domain name into your browser, the Domain Name System (DNS) looks up the corresponding IP address. This connects your computer to the computer where the website’s files are hosted.
You can think of it as the difference between knowing the street address for a location and knowing the exact latitude and longitude of the same location. They both arrive at the same place, but the street address is much easier for most people to remember than the geographical coordinates. That’s the power of a good domain name.
Is a domain the same thing as a URL?
Also no. A domain is just one component of a URL, or Uniform Resource Locator, which is the complete unique web address for a website.
Let’s use one of our URLs as an example:
https://www.registeredagentsinc.com/hire-us
You can see that there are multiple divisions of this complete address, similar to the way that your street address is divided into the number, street name, unit number, etc.:
- Protocol—also called a scheme, the https dictates how your internet browser communicates with our website server
- Subdomain—the www is a subdomain, an option for structuring your website
- Second-level domain (SLD)—the registeredagentsinc is the custom piece branded with our name
- Top-level domain (TLD)—the .com is our top-level domain, or domain extension
- Subdirectory—everything after the slash, aka the hire-us, is a subdirectory telling your browser which part of our site to access
The labels themselves tell you which parts of a URL are relevant to the domain. From right to left, the top-level domain, the second-level domain, and the optional subdomain are all parts of a domain. In the analogy of a house on a street, the rest of the URL is your mode of transportation (the protocol) and the specific room of the building you’re trying to access (the subdirectory).
Conclusion
Understanding the parts of a domain is essential to making informed decisions as you establish your online brand presence. If you’re still in the weeds, remember you don’t have to go it alone—Registered Agents Inc’s experts are just an email or phone call away. We’ve helped over one million entrepreneurs launch their dreams, and we’d be honored to be part of your journey.