What Are The Parts of a Domain Name?

On the Web, the domain name is that part of the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that tells a domain name server using the domain name system (DNS) where to forward a request for a Web page. For example, the domain name www.onlinepersonalssites.com locates an IP address for "onlinepersonalssites.com" at Internet point 72.167.46.29. The “www” refers to the host server. The file extension ".com" refers to the purpose of the company (in this example, "commercial"). It is known as the top-level domain name. The "onlinepersonalssites" part of the domain name defines the company and, together with the top-level file extension, is called the second-level domain name. The second-level domain name, what Web users are most used to, can be thought of as the "readable" version of the Internet address.

Further variance and additions can be used but are not required. A third level can be used to identify a particular host server at the Internet address if needed. For example, where "www" is the name of the server that handles Internet requests, a second server might be called "www2. Sub-domain levels can also be used. For example, you could have "www.yahoo.onlinepersonalssites.com” to lead a user to a specific subdivision on your site.

Second-level domain names (Remember: these are the “readable” versions of Internet addresses) must be unique on the Internet and registered with one of the ICANN-accredited registrars for the COM, NET, and ORG top-level domains. A top-level domain name can be geographic, but to register a U. S. geographic domain name or a domain name under a country code, you must see an appropriate registrar.

To allow multiple individuals, businesses, and organizations to have separate Internet identities while sharing the same Internet server more than one domain name can be mapped to the same Internet address.

An even higher level of domain exists than the top-level domain. It is the highest level known as the root domain. If the dot for the root domain were shown in the URL (which it is not) it would be to the right of the top-level domain name. However, the dot is assumed to be present, never shown.

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Find the right domain for your business with Yahoo! Web Hosting

Need to do a domain name search? You've come to the right place! All Yahoo! Web Hosting plans include a free domain name, to use as a web address for your business web site. Simply search for a domain, check its availability, and register! You can also use a domain name you already own with your web hosting plan.

When you're ready to search and register for a new domain name, Yahoo! Web Hosting provides the information you need to choose a domain name suitable for your business. We also make it easy to complete a domain name search, register your domain, and use it with a web site. Here's how our domain name search service works:

1. Use our domain name search tool to search for a domain and check its availability.
2. Register your domain name and sign up for any Yahoo! Web Hosting plan at the same time.

Getting Started with Yahoo! Domains

Welcome to Yahoo! Domains! This brief guide will help get you started setting up and managing the features of your new web address. If you have any questions along the way, see our Yahoo! Domains Help.

About Your Domain

When you signed up for your plan, you chose a web address, or domain, for your business. Your customers will use this domain, such as learn2yoga.com, to find your business online.

If you recently signed up for Yahoo! Domains, your domain may still be pending. Pending means that your domain is not yet active across the Internet; don't worry, this is normal for all domain registrations and changes, and can take up to 72 hours. The effects of a pending domain:

• Web address: If you are registering a new domain, visitors who visit your web address will get a Page Not Found error. If you are using a domain you registered elsewhere, visitors will see the page or web site that is currently active, depending on the settings you have made at your registrar.
• Email: Any email messages sent to your domain name may not be delivered while your domain is pending. If you are using a domain you ordered through another provider, your email may be delivered to your registrar until your domain becomes active.

We'll notify you as soon as your domain becomes active. In the meantime, you can begin familiarizing yourself with your Yahoo! plan features!

Using a Domain You Already Own

To use your existing domain name with your Yahoo! plan, you'll need to contact the company where you originally registered your domain, such as Network Solutions, and request a name server change to redirect your existing domain name to Yahoo!

You don't need to understand name servers to make the switch. Just provide your registrar with this information about your new service (be sure to replace learn2yoga.com with your own domain name):

I would like to request a name server change for my domain learn2yoga.com. Please change my name servers to:

Primary name server: yns1.yahoo.com
Primary IP address: 98.136.43.32
Secondary name server: yns2.yahoo.com
Secondary IP address: 66.196.84.168

After you've done this, the change may take up to 72 hours (during this time, your domain will appear as pending).

Note: This process is not a registrar transfer. Your current provider will continue to renew your domain, and you'll pay any associated fees to that provider. Yahoo! will not renew your domain. Learn more.

Your Domain Control Panel

To begin exploring your new domain features, sign in to your account:

1. Visit your Business Control Panel. (If you haven't entered your Yahoo! ID and password, you'll be prompted to do so here. If you forget your password, click the "Forgot your password?" link and follow the prompts to retrieve it.)
2. Click "Domain Control Panel."
3. From here, you'll see a list of tasks, where you can manage all of your Yahoo! Domains services:
   
   Starter Web Page: Create or edit a basic web page for your web address.
   Forward Your Domain: Send visitors from your domain to another web site.
   Set Up Email Address: Set up your domain name email address.
   View/Edit Your Domain Registration: Review and update your WHOIS contact information.
   Manage Advanced DNS Settings: Set up CNAME, A Records, and MX records (for advanced users only).

Starter Web Page

When you purchase a Domains, Custom Mailbox, or Business Mail plan, we automatically create a placeholder "Under Construction" web page for you at your web address. To customize this page, you can use our starter web page feature, which allows you to add your name, contact information, and details about your business, as well as change the page design. A starter web page is a great way to establish a presence at your domain until you're ready to build a more comprehensive web site. Learn more.

Note: Do you already have a web site? You can forward traffic from your new domain name to your existing site. Learn how.

Email Features

If you have a Domains plan, you'll also get one free email address! You can specify an email address at your domain, such as linda@learn2yoga.com, and retrieve these messages from your free Yahoo! Mail account (for example, youryahooID@yahoo.com).

You can also take advantage of our "catch-all" feature, which allows any email sent to misaddressed, misspelled, or nonexistent addresses at your domain to be redirected to your Yahoo! Mail account. You can activate this feature in the "Set Up Email Address" task from the Domains Control Panel.Learn more.

Other Settings

From your Domain Control Panel, you can edit both your domain registration information and your advanced DNS settings:

• Domain Registration Information: At any time, you can visit this task to edit your registrant and administrator contact information. We recommend keeping this information up-to-date in the event that your domain name registrar or another third party needs to contact you regarding any technical or legal issue with your domain name. Learn more.
• Advanced DNS Settings: If you're an advanced user, you can customize your domain name to work with other services. You can add A or CNAME records, or change MX records or your name servers. However, we recommend changing DNS records only if you're an advanced users, as making such changes can prevent your services from functioning properly. If you've made changes and would like to revert to the old settings, you can reset the advanced DNS settings to their default values.

Next Steps

What's next? We'll email you as soon as your domain becomes active. To test this domain, visit your web address at http://www.yourdomain.com (be sure to replace "yourdomain.com" with your own domain name). You should see an "Under Construction" page, or, if you set up a starter web page, your business and contact information in the template you selected. (If you forwarded your domain, you should be redirected to the web address you specified.)

If you need more help setting up or managing the features of your new web address, explore ourDomains Help or our Glossary.

What is domain locking?

Domain locking is a free security enhancement offered by Yahoo! to prevent unauthorized transfers of your domain to another registrar or web host by "locking" your domain name servers. When your domain is locked, you'll be substantially protected from unauthorized third parties who might try to misdirect your name servers or transfer your domain without your permission. You will also be unable to inadvertently make changes to your name servers that could prevent Yahoo! from hosting your domain services properly. Learn more about changing name servers.

To make changes to your domain name servers, you will need to sign in to the Domain Control Paneland turn off domain locking. (We recommend turning locking off only in the event that you need to make such changes.) Learn more.

Please note that domain locking is available only for domains registered through Yahoo! after January 22, 2001 (or, for Merchant Solutions customers, after March 23, 2001). If you'd like to activate locking for a domain you have purchased elsewhere and redelegated for use with your Yahoo! plan, please contact your domain registrar and ask about the availability of this feature.

omain Name Basics: What, Why, And How

What's in a domain name? A lot more than you might think. Your domain name can be your first impression, your face to the outside world, and your new marketing plan. Learn more about what domain names are, why you should take the time to choose a good one for yourself, and how to go about it.

What is a domain name?

A domain name is an address for the Internet. It helps people find your web site. Just as homes and businesses have street addresses, all web sites have domain names. The Yahoo! domain name is yahoo.com.

A domain name is made up of two parts, typically preceded by www. Let's use yahoo.com as an example:

• The first part, yahoo, is a unique name that represents the web site.
• The second part, com, is the extension, and stands for "commercial." There are many extensions available, though .com, .net, .biz, .info, and .us are the most popular extensions in the United States.

Why is a good domain name important?

A good domain name helps you in numerous ways.

For Businesses

Add your domain name to your business card, email signature, and other advertisements.

• Build credibility: Show your customers that you have an established business.
• Improve your marketing: Provide customers an easy way to remember and contact you.
• Protect your brand: Secure the domain name that best represents your business name — and keep it out of the hands of your competitors.

For Consumers

Describe your site as best you can with your domain name. For example, a pair of amateur magicians might use their stage names, some combination of words including magic, or the name of their most famous trick.

How do I choose a domain name?

Keep these tips in mind as you select your domain name.

• Your domain name should reflect your business name or the topic your site will cover.
• It should be a unique and concise name that is easy to say, remember, and spell.
• You can use only letters, numbers, and hyphens in your domain name. Spaces or other symbols are not allowed.
• If your first choice isn't available, try rearranging the word order, adding hyphens, or using abbreviations or locations to come up with a unique alternative.

Once you have a domain name, you need a web site! Luckily, you came to the right place. It's easy to add Yahoo! services that help you build a full web site or open an online store.