What are domains and how to choose the best ones

Domains are a vital element in a web project. In this tutorial of CourseWpress.com we show you how you can choose the best ones.

Let's start with the basics:

            What is a domain?

An internet domain is a name that identifies each website.

Domains are a way of giving a meaningful and alphabetical character to the IP addresses that are assigned to each web page. This makes navigation easier for all of us.

Thus, thanks to the domains, we do not have to be pointing and learning IP addresses.

And instead of, as an example, write in our browser:

All we have to do is write:

That it is easier to write and remember.

Although this is how it is simple and easy to explain, behind the domains and their operation there is a complex protocol called DNS or Domain Name System.

What is DNS?

The English Domain Name System or DNS Domain Name System is a internet protocol whose function is to perform the resolution of domain names.

This protocol is based on servers where databases with information related to domain names are stored. What DNS does is serve as an interpreter and transform an IP into an easily intelligible domain name.

How are domains classified?

Before talking about the classification of domains, it is necessary to know how a domain is composed.

The domains are made up of several items, namely:

1. The Name of the domain itself. That, although for us it is the first thing we type in the address bar of our browser, this part is actually known as second level mastery or SLD of English: Second Level Domain.
2. The extension of the domain. What is the next thing we write in the search bar and it is called top-level domain o TLD of English Top Level Domain.

Let's take as an example:

CourseWpress.com

Where:

CourseWpress is the name or second level mastery; and the .com the domain extension or top-level domain.

Having said this, we have to top-level domains or what we know as an extension are classified into several types. Mainly in two. And they are:

1. Territorial domains

Territorial domains, as their name suggests, are domain extensions based on a territory.

These domains are technically known as ccTLD or country code top level domain. This would literally translate to top-level domain by country code.

In territorial or geolocated domains, in general, there are two letters that identify each country. As an example:

• The geolocated websites in Spain have a .es extension
• The pages of Brazil .br; those of Russia .ru and so on with each country.

There are almost three hundred domain extensions that correspond to each country.

2. Generic top-level domains

Which are technically known as gTLD of English generic top level domain. These domains do not obey a geographical location, and instead of representing a country they refer to names or types of organizations.

Among the generic top-level domains we have .com, .net, .org, .edu, .gob.

Although at the same time there are other generic high-level domains of more recent creation such as:

• .museum, for museums
• .jobs, work
• .football, of course, foot ball
• .poker
• .design, for designers and the like
• And a long etcetera.

How to choose the best domains?

Many webmasters, bloggers, or entrepreneurs spend hours mulling over the domain name to find the perfect one.

The thing is, so much has been said about domains in terms of SEO. And although it is important to have a good domain, this must always be chosen, thinking about the user.

• With that in mind: short domains they are easier to remember. But, if it is composed of specific words and with meaning it does not matter that it is a little long.
• The generic top-level domains they are the easiest to remember, always.
• When most users think of a website, they do it in the following way:

YourWebName.com

So always try to choose the .com.

• Although, depending on what you are looking for with your page or business, sometimes a geolocated domain would be better for you.
• If it is a company name, business, come on: a brand, it is best to buy all possible extensions: .com, .net, .es.
• It is feasible to use special characters in domain names such letters with accents and the letter ñ. And although the search engine understands it, remember that when you browse little, accents are usually used.
• Similarly avoid special characters such as: dots, bars, hyphens.
• Numbers are another element that often confuses users because of not knowing whether to write it numerically or alphabetically, for example: twenty-three.com or 23.com.

You want to know more?

Sign up for the best online and Spanish WordPress course that exists.