Mist Network
What Is a Domain Name? How Domains Work, Explained Simply
A domain name is the address people type to reach your site — but behind it sit registries, registrars and DNS. Here is how domains work from the dot to the server, in plain language.
A domain name is the human-readable address of a website or email system — like example.com — that stands in for the numeric IP address computers use to find each other. You rent the name for a period of time from a registrar, and DNS records then tell the internet which server answers for it.
This guide explains the parts of a domain, what happens when someone types it into a browser, who actually controls domains, and how domains, hosting and websites fit together.
The parts of a domain name
Domains are read from right to left, from the most general part to the most specific:
| Part | In blog.example.com | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Top-level domain (TLD) | .com | The extension, run by a registry. Generic (.com, .net, .shop) or country code (.de, .uk) |
| Second-level domain | example | The name you choose and register |
| Subdomain | blog | An optional prefix you create yourself, free, in your DNS |
The full name is limited to 253 characters, and each part between dots to 63. Letters, digits and hyphens are allowed; many TLDs also accept international characters.
Domain, website and hosting: not the same thing
- Domain — the address. It does not store any files.
- Hosting or a server — the computer that stores your website files and runs your applications.
- DNS — the directory that connects the two, saying "example.com lives at this IP".
- Website — what visitors see when the domain points to a server that serves pages.
That separation is useful: you can move your site to another server and keep the same domain, simply by changing a DNS record. Our guide on how to point a domain to a VPS shows exactly how.
What happens when someone types your domain
- The browser asks a resolver — usually run by the internet provider or a public DNS service.
- The resolver asks the root servers — which point to the servers for the TLD, such as .com.
- The TLD servers point to your nameservers — the ones set at your registrar.
- Your nameservers answer — with the A or AAAA record, the IP address of your server.
- The browser connects to that IP — and the server returns the website.
Resolvers cache the answer for the record's TTL, so the next visitor gets it instantly. That caching is also why changes take time to spread — see DNS propagation time.
Who controls domain names?
| Who | Role |
|---|---|
| ICANN | Coordinates the global system and accredits registrars for generic TLDs |
| Registry | Runs a TLD's database and sets its rules and wholesale price |
| Registrar | Sells registrations to the public and manages them for you |
| Registrant | You — the person or company that holds the domain |
You never buy a domain forever. You register it for one or more years and renew it. If a renewal is missed, the domain goes through grace and redemption periods before it becomes available to others — explained in what happens when a domain expires.
Which extension should you choose?
- .com — the most recognised, works everywhere.
- Country codes — good when you serve one country; some have residency rules.
- New generic TLDs — .shop, .online, .xyz and others can be cheaper at first, but compare renewal prices too. See cheap domain extensions.
For naming tips — length, spelling, trademarks — read how to choose a domain name.
How to register a domain
- Search — check that the name is available in the extensions you want.
- Register — choose the period and pay; at mistREG you can pay with crypto.
- Protect your details — turn on WHOIS privacy where available (WHOIS privacy explained).
- Set up DNS — use the included Cloudflare-hosted DNS or your own nameservers, and add records for your site and email.
- Keep renewals on time — note the expiry date and keep enough balance so the domain never lapses by accident.
Register your domain at mistREG
See current prices in the packages section, all services including VPS and Plesk hosting, and answers in the FAQ. Every domain includes free Cloudflare-hosted DNS, managed from one panel, and you can pay with crypto.
