| Technical terms and jargon got you confused? Below are some commonly used terms and their definitions in the domain name registration industry. If you have questions on additional terms, please email us and we will add them to the list. |
Affiliate Contact Record/Contact ID Country Code Top Level Domain DNS Domain Name Domain Name Services Agreement Domain Name System Domain Parking Generic Top Level Domain Hosting ICANN Intellectual Property IP address IP number InterNIC ISP Modify Name Servers Name Service (Primary or Secondary) Primary Server Propagation Registrant Registrar Registration Term Registry Registry Fees Resolve Root Renewal Secondary Server Second Level Domain SSL Subdomain Top Level Domain (TLD) Transfer (Domain Name transfer) Web Host Whois Zone file |
Accredit To identify and set minimum standards for the performance of registration functions, to recognize persons or entities meeting those standards, and to enter into an accreditation agreement that sets forth the rules and procedures applicable to the provision of Registrar Services. Domain Bank is an accredited registrar, which can be validated through ICANN Back to Top Affiliate Client who offers domain name registration services via the client's website, using Domain Bank's registration process. Back to Top Contact Record/Contact ID Contact Records or Contact IDs (sometimes called Agents) are individuals or groups who represent a registrant on matters related to the registrant's domain name(s). There are three types of Contacts: Administrative, Technical, and Billing. The entity listed as the Administrative, Technical, or Billing Contact is an individual or 'role' that is contacted in matters relating to the domain name. They also have the ability to Modify information pertaining to a domain name. A Contact may be a single person, a company, or organization. Back to Top Country Code Top Level Domain A top-level domain containing a 2-character abbreviation as defined by ISO 3166-1 (Codes for the Representation of Names of Countries and Their Subdivisions). As of November 1999 there were 243 country code top level domains (ccTLDs) registered. Some examples are .us for the United States, .ca for Canada, .jp for Japan, .de for Germany, etc. ccTLDs are often contrasted to generic top level domains (gTLDs). ccTLDs often have more restrictive registration requirements including regional requirements whereas gTLDs tend to be open to all registrants around the world. Back to Top DNS DNS stands for Domain Name System. This System translates a domain name such as Domain Bank.com into the Internet Protocol (IP) numbers to find the correct web site - in this case the site for Domain Bank. The network of computers that constitute the Internet map domain names to their corresponding IP numbers. The data is then made available to all computers and users on the Internet. Back to Top Domain Name A domain name is the core of your company's online identity. It is the address your customers will use to find information about your products and services on the web. Your domain name is yours entirely because once registered, no other party may use that identity online in that Top Level Domain. Domain Names always have 2 or more parts, separated by dots. The part on the left is the most specific, and the part on the right is the most general. A domain name can simply be thought of as your Internet address. The Internet uses Internet Protocol (IP) numbers to locate other computers. Internet users would typically have a hard time remembering these long strings of numbers to find sites. Domain names were developed to allow users to name these (IP) addresses with easy to remember names or phrases. Our domain name - Domain Bank.com - for example is part of the Internet address for Domain Bank. Back to Top Domain Name Services Agreement A domain name Services Agreement is a binding contract put forth by a domain name registrar that must be agreed to by the registrant before the registration of a domain name can be processed. Back to Top Domain Name System A distributed database of information that is used to translate domain names (which are easy for humans to remember and use) into Internet Protocol (IP) numbers, which are what computers need to find each other on the Internet. People working on computers around the globe maintain their specific portion of this database, and the data held in each portion of the database is made available to all computers and users on the Internet. The DNS comprises computers, data files, software, and people working together. Back to Top Domain Parking Registries require the use of name servers or hosts for every domain registered. In other words, every domain name has to be linked to a name server for it to be valid. Some people do not have their own name servers, therefore Domain Bank offers 'domain parking' (name parking) on its servers. It is a convenient way to hold or 'park' domain name(s) for an extended amount of time. Back to Top Generic Top Level Domain A top level domain name that is open to registrants around the world in contrast to country code top level domains that are often restricted to registrants located in a particular country or region. .com, .net and .org are all considered to be generic top level domains. Back to Top Hosting This term can be used to refer to the housing of a web site, email or a domain. See Email hosting and Web Site hosting for more details. Back to Top ICANN The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is a technical coordination body for the Internet. Specifically, ICANN coordinates the assignment of the following identifiers that must be globally unique for the Internet to function:
Back to Top Intellectual Property Intellectual property is generally some sort of information or data that is given the same consideration as goods and services in terms of legal protection against infringement and copyrights. Back to Top IP address The numeric identification number that refers to a specific machine on the Internet. Back to Top IP number IP stands for Internet protocol. A unique number consisting of 4 parts separated by dots. Every machine that is on the Internet has a unique number, which correlates to its domain name. Back to Top InterNIC InterNIC (Internet Network Information Center), is a registered service mark of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The InterNIC, formerly responsible for registering and maintaining the .com, .net and .org Top Level Domains names is currently an informational Web site established to provide the public with information about domain name registration. The site is accessible at http://www.internic.net. Back to Top ISP ISP stands for Internet Service Provider. An ISP provides access to the Internet for others via some connectivity service(s). Examples of ISPs include Earthlink, Mindspring, and WorldNet to name a few. Back to Top Modify Modify is a function where contact information or DNS information can be updated to reflect new changes pertaining to a domain name. Administrative and Technical Contacts have the ability to modify domain name information. Back to Top Name Servers A computer that performs the mapping of domain names to IP addresses. Sometimes referred to as a host server. Back to Top Name Service (Primary or Secondary) The domain name-to-Internet Protocol (IP) number resolution is known as Name Service. Many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) operate name servers and provide their customers with name service when they register a domain name. Domain Bank offers both primary and secondary name service for all domain names registered through us. Back to Top Primary Server On Domain Bank's Domain Name Service Agreement, the section where the registrant indicates the host name and Internet Protocol (IP) number of the name server that will contain authoritative information for the domain name and will be used to resolve that domain name to its corresponding IP number(s). The designation of "primary" means that this name server will be used first and will be relied upon before any of the other name servers that may be listed on the Domain Name Service Agreement. The primary server section of the Agreement is a required section and the domain name registration will not be processed unless this section of the Domain Name Service Agreement is completed properly. Back to Top Propagation Propagation is the amount of time required for a domain name's registration and/or changes to DNS Information to be distributed throughout the Domain Name System. New .com, .net and .org domain name registrations typically require 24-72 hours to be updated on and propagate throughout the Internet's 13 root servers. Back to Top Registrant The entity, organization, or individual listed as the owner of the domain name is also known as the registrant. Back to Top Registrar Any entity, organization, or individual that acts on behalf of a registrant regarding domain name requests or modifies is known as a registrar. Some registries require domain name requests go through a registrar. For .COM, .NET, and .ORG names, Domain Bank is a registrar. Back to Top Registration Term The specified yearly increments Domain Bank requires for length of domain name registration. The registration term may vary in length by TLD. E.G. A .COM domain name must be registered for 1, 2, 5, or 10 years. Back to Top Registry The organization responsible for the actual administration and maintenance of a top-level domain is known as the registry. The registry is where registrants or registrars go for new or modify domain name requests. Back to Top Registry Fees Most TLD registries require initial registration fees as well as annual or bi-annual renewal fees. Prices vary from cost-free to thousands of dollars per domain depending on the TLD chosen. The most commonly registered names are in the .COM, .NET, and .ORG domain and cost an initial fee of $70.00 USD, which covers the first two years. Renewal fees are $35.00 annually after the first two years. Registry fees are outside of any Domain Bank processing fee(s). Back to Top Resolve The term used to describe the process by which domain names are matched with corresponding Internet Protocol (IP) numbers. "Resolution" is accomplished by a combination of computers and software, referred to as name servers that use the data in the Domain Name System to determine which IP numbers correspond to a particular domain name. Back to Top Root The top of the Domain Name System (DNS) hierarchy. Often referred to as the "dot." Back to Top Renewal Registration for most domain names needs to be renewed based on some scheduled yearly interval. This gives the registrant (you) and the registry (the administrator of the Top Level Domain) an opportunity to update contact information and name registration. This usually includes payment of the registration fee(s). Back to Top Secondary Server On Domain Bank's Domain Name Service Agreement, the section where the registrant indicates the hostname and Internet Protocol (IP) number of a name server that will contain authoritative data for the domain name being registered and will resolve that domain name to its corresponding IP number(s). The designation of "secondary" indicates that the name server will be used in addition to and as a backup for the primary name server that is listed on the Domain Name Service Agreement. Back to Top Second Level Domain In the Domain Name System (DNS), the next highest level of the hierarchy underneath the Top Level Domains. Our domain name - Domain Bank.net - for example is part of the Internet address for Domain Bank, Inc. The Domain Bank part is the second level domain. Second level domain names are what you register by or on behalf of registrants (or owners) in a Top Level Domain registry. Back to Top SSL SSL is an acronym for "Secure Socket Layer", a security protocol that provides communications privacy over the Internet. The protocol allows client/server applications to communicate in a way that is designed to prevent eavesdropping, tampering, or message forgery. Back to Top Subdomain A subdomain is a level of division of the domain name space. Every domain names that exists on the Internet can be divided up into an infinite number of subdomains. For example, in the URL name.domainbank.com, "name" is considered a subdomain. Back to Top Top Level Domain (TLD) In the Domain Name System (DNS), the highest level of the hierarchy above second level domains. Our domain name - DomainBank.com - for example is part of the Internet address for Domain Bank, Inc. The Domain Bank part is the second level domain while the .com is the Top Level Domain. Second level domain names are what you register by or on behalf of registrants (or name holders) in a Top Level Domain registry. There are two types of Top Level Domains. The most common type is Generic or gTLDs, such as .COM, .NET, .ORG. New gTLDs such as .NOM, .INFO, or .WEB may be introduced sometime in the near future. The other type of TLD is the ccTLD (country code top level domains) which are assigned to all countries and their dependencies. Every TLD registry - generic or country code - has its own prices, policies, and procedures that registrants (name holders) in that registry are subject to. It is important to know and be prepared to accept these before registering name(s) in a particular registry. Back to Top Transfer (Domain Name transfer) Domain names can be sold to another organization or sometimes the name of a company might change. Most registries require a process by which permission from the old owner to hand over control to the new owner is authorized. The procedure for change of ownership is known a Transfer. Policies and procedures on domain name transfer can vary from registry to registry. Back to Top Web Host The server where your web site's html files, graphics, etc. reside is known as the web host. Back to Top Whois Whois is a term referring to a domain name search feature for a database - typically for Top-Level Domain name registries. Information such as name availability can be found through a query or search using a whois protocol (standard). Most Top-Level Domain registries maintain their own whois database containing domain name contact information. Back to Top Zone file The group of files that reside on the domain host or name server. The zone file designates a domain, its sub-domains, and mail server. Back to Top |
