A domain name is a human-readable and memorable address used to identify a website on the internet.
It consists of a series of alphanumeric characters, separated by periods, that are used to locate the website's server. The domain name serves as an alternate method for accessing a website, rather than having to remember the numerical IP address of the server hosting the website.
The most common types of domain names are generic top-level domains (gTLDs), such as .com, .org, .net, and country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs), such as .uk, .us, .fr, etc.
The process of registering a domain name involves choosing a unique name, checking its availability, and then paying a fee to a domain registrar for the right to use that name for a specific period of time. The domain registrar is responsible for maintaining a database of all registered domain names and their associated IP addresses.
When a user enters a domain name into their web browser, the browser contacts a domain name system (DNS) server to retrieve the IP address associated with the domain name. The browser then uses the IP address to establish a connection with the web server hosting the website.
In summary, a domain name is a crucial part of the internet infrastructure, allowing for easy identification and access to websites and online resources.