Domain basics

The first question is rarely how do I buy one. It is which one, what else do I need, and will it suddenly cost more later. This page answers those.

A domain is rented, not bought outright. What you pay for is the exclusive right to use the address for a fixed period, and the right ends when the period does.

Charged yearly A registration is normally at least a year

Expiry stops it Miss the renewal and it runs through grace and redemption

Searching is free You pay when you register, not when you look

60-day rule A new registration cannot transfer for 60 days

What it is

A domain has three parts: the name, the ending (the TLD) and the registry behind it. You register through a registrar - us - and the registry records the name.
The ending decides the rules and the price. .com is the most widely understood; country endings often require local eligibility.
Registration details have to be true and complete. ICANN requires accurate registrant data, and inaccurate details can get a domain suspended.
A domain does not renew itself. Turn on auto-renew, or put the expiry date in your calendar - those are the only two options that work.

How it works

01

Think of a name

Short, easy to spell and easy to say wins.

02

Check availability

Search the name and add the available endings to the cart.

03

Add accurate details

True registrant details, and decide on privacy protection.

04

Renew before expiry

Auto-renew, or work from a reminder.

Choosing the name

Short, memorable, and ideally describing the business.

Choosing the ending

.com is the default; country endings have stricter rules.

Privacy

Hide contact details where the ending allows it.

Renewal

Auto-renew or a reminder - one of the two is essential.

DNS

What points the name at a server.

Transfers

Changing registrar without changing the site.

The vocabulary, briefly

These six words explain everything else

Term	Meaning
Registry	The organisation that runs an ending. The .com registry holds every .com registration.
Registrar	Where you actually order. It passes the registration to the registry.
Registrant	The holder of the domain, and the party with the legal right to use it.
Nameservers / DNS	What tells the internet which server the domain points at.
WHOIS / RDDS	The public lookup for registration data. Privacy protection hides the personal fields.
EPP / auth code	The password for moving a domain: the transfer key.

The life of a domain

From registration to release

Available: anyone can register it.
First 60 days: no transfer out, and no transfer in either - a registry rule.
Normal term: resolving normally, DNS and contacts editable.
Expiry, then grace: usually 0 to 45 days depending on the ending. It may already have stopped resolving, but the usual renewal price still applies.
Redemption: usually around 30 days, at a redemption fee that is far higher than a renewal.
Pending delete, then release: the record is cleared and the name becomes available to anyone, including backorder services.

The timelines and fees differ by ending. What matters is the shape: catching it in grace is cheap; redemption is expensive; released is gone.

What to do on the first registration

Five minutes now saves a great deal later

Use a dedicated registrant mailbox that you will still control in five years, with two-factor authentication on it - it decides whether a transfer can be confirmed.
Turn auto-renew on, or set a reminder for 30 days before expiry.
Turn privacy protection on where the ending supports it.
Turn the registrar lock on, so an unauthorised transfer is refused outright.
If it is for a brand, register the main endings at the same time so nobody else picks them up.

What every order includes

Availability search

Free to check, and available names go straight to the cart.

Registration and renewal

Ordering, renewals and auto-renew settings.

DNS management

Point the domain at your server.

Privacy protection

Reduce what the public record shows.

Registrar lock

Prevent unauthorised transfers.

Transfers out

Move at any time, provided the account is settled.

Common questions

Do I own the domain outright?

No. You hold the exclusive right to use it for a fixed term and renew it. This is how the global domain system works rather than a policy of any one registrar.

Do I need hosting as well?

Not necessarily. A domain can be used only for mail, only for forwarding, or simply held. Hosting is only needed once there is a website to serve.

How long should a domain be?

Shorter is easier to remember, but short names are either taken or expensive. The practical test: say it out loud, and see whether somebody can type it correctly the first time.

Should I pick .com or something else?

.com has the widest recognition and suits a brand aimed generally. If the business is concentrated in one country, the local ending fits better, though it may require local details.

Can a domain be recovered after expiry?

Within the grace period, yes, at the normal renewal price. In redemption it is possible but expensive. Once released and re-registered, no payment recovers it.

What is the difference between a domain and hosting?

The domain is the address; hosting is where the content lives. A visitor reaches the domain, which points at the host, which returns the page.

Please note

ICANN requires the registrant record to be true, accurate and complete. Inaccurate data can lead to suspension, and is a breach of the registration agreement.
Renewal reminders go to the account mailbox. If it stops working, you stop receiving them, so keep both the account address and the registrant address current.