This article, which Fast Panda has compiled from years of experience hosting websites and managing domains, is meant to help you create your website as effectively as possible.

Browsers such as Google Chrome, Opera, and Internet Explorer are to visit websites broadcasting on the web. The site address that we type in the “address bar” section of these browsers to visit any site, starting with “HTTP” or “HTTPS” and ending with an extension such as .com, and .net is called “domain” or “domain name.”

Following this brief explanation, let’s get into the technical details. Every internet broadcasting site has its specific address, which is made of numbers. In other words, accessing or publishing a website does not require a domain address. However, given that you visit hundreds of websites every day, it is impossible to remember the string of numbers for each address. As a result, the technology known as “DNS,” which stands for “Domain Name System,” was developed. Simply put, this technology converts the site’s IP address into domain addresses. It follows the same logic as giving each phone number in your phonebook a name.

What Is Domain Extension?

The part after the dot at the far right of a domain name is defined as the domain extension. Domain names are organized in a hierarchical structure: domain extensions determine the apex of the hierarchy. An example would be the top-level domain name “.co.uk” at the end of the website you are visiting.

The term “TLD” is used in the online community to refer to top-level domains. The abbreviation TLD stands for “Top-Level Domain.” The four most well-known domain extensions worldwide are com, net, co.uk, and org. Due to some malicious individuals’ propensity to dominate the domain market and create unfair competition, the global domain federation called “Public Root” has created hundreds of domain extensions we use these days.

How Do I Choose the Right Domain Extension for My Project?

The choice of domain extensions has been the subject of numerous theories and arguments. While some web professionals contend that using a country extension should be preferred when choosing a domain extension, other circles emphasize picking the correct extension for the project.

The majority of worldwide projects prefer domain names with the .com extension. The fact that this extension was one of the first three to be made available and is accessible to anyone without legal status is the only explanation for it. Therefore, .com domain names stick in the minds of website visitors. Although, with the advent of hundreds of extensions after 2010, .com gradually vanished.

Now, visitors request the domain name extension instead of trying to access the website by attaching a com extension to each domain name. In other words, the health of your project is not affected by the domain name extension you choose.

The domain names available target a specific type of project or geographic location. However, as we mentioned earlier, the widespread use of extensions disregards this purpose. In other words, you can use any domain name you want in any project you want with confidence. But even so, in the following sections, we will discuss popular domain name extensions and their applications.

The Most Common Domain Extensions

  • .com domain

.com is a domain name extension that is an abbreviation for the word “commercial,” and most businesses use this extension. This domain name does not require documentation; it is sold on a “first come, first served” basis.

  • .net domain

.net is an abbreviation for the word “network.” Institutions, organizations, and companies use this extension. This domain name does not require documentation; it is sold on a “first come, first served” basis.

  • .org domain

.org is an abbreviation for the word “organization.” Organization here means non-governmental organizations, and it has been put on the market for use by non-profit organizations such as associations, foundations, and political parties. This domain name does not require documentation; it is sold on a “first come, first served” basis.

  • .biz domain

.biz is an abbreviation for the word “business.” It has been considered an alternative to the .com domain name and is available for commercial enterprises. This domain name does not require documentation: it is sold on a “first come, first served” basis.

  • .info domain

.info is an abbreviation for the word “information.” It has been put on the market for use by institutions, organizations, and individuals who share information for the public’s benefit as well as those who want to share information on any subject. This domain name does not require documentation: it is sold on a “first come, first served” basis.

  • .pro domain

.pro stands for the word “professional”. People who provide professional services mostly use this domain extension. This domain name does not require documentation: it is sold on a “first come, first served” basis.

  • .name domain

.name is available for those who want to publish a personal website and personal blog. This domain name does not require documentation: it is sold on a “first come, first served” basis.

  • .online domain

.online is a domain extension called “gTLD” (Generic Top Level Domain). It is available for all projects on the Internet. This domain name does not require documentation: it is sold on a “first come, first served” basis.

  • .edu domain

.edu is an abbreviation for the word “education.”

Universities, high schools, and organizations for educators accredited by the United States take advantage of this domain name extension.

A document proving that it is recognized by American law as an official educational institution or association is necessary for this domain name allocation; after that, it is sold on a “first come, first served” basis.

  • .gov domain

.gov stands for the word “government.” Official institutions use this domain name extension, and you must be an official institution to be allowed to use it.

To start a business, you would need a domain name and a hosting service provider. Fast Panda provides a selection of unique domain names and various hosting services while taking care of privacy concerns.

What Is a Subdomain?

All secondary domains created from a primary are called “subdomains.” For instance, think of “domainname.com” as the primary domain and “blog.domain.com” as the subdomain. To access any web application, blog site, forum site, or virtual store on the main website, we must first create a subdomain through the hosting account’s administrative panel, which we cannot do without the primary domain.

Why Is Domain Important?

The domain’s undeniable benefit to brand awareness is the only factor in the domain’s significance. A domain name that is as short, memorable, and relevant to the product and service offered will positively affect the impulse to buy and visit. You can’t reach your potential customers if your domain name doesn’t fit your project.

Do Domain Extensions Impact SEO?

There are a lot of urban myths that domain extensions have a positive or negative impact on SEO. Numerous studies have proven that domain extensions do not affect SEO, whether positively or negatively. The websites on the first page of a Google search for highly competitive terms use various extensions. Providing user satisfaction is the primary goal of on-site SEO work.

Does Domain Registration Period Affect SEO?

Almost all SEO authorities agree that the domain registration period impacts SEO. The overall opinion is that lengthy domain registration procedures significantly improve SEO analysis. 

According to data released by ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), which regulates the terms of domain name allocation, more than half of newly registered domain names are not renewed in the second year. This situation interferes with listing technology, which is important to Google because it dominates the search engine market. 

Google strives to direct users to the website they seek without having them leave the first search page as a result of the search queries made by its users. The user gets disappointed to discover that the website he entered is not working. Because of this, Google’s ranking algorithm considers the period of domain registration. In other words, Google considers the duration of domain registration to determine how long-term your project is. Long-term projects are also boosted to the top of the rankings by Google.

How to Search for a Domain Name?

Finding out if the domain you want to use is available is straightforward: Go to Fast Panda’s Domain Name Search page and type the domain name you want to query.

What is Whois Information? How to Search for Domain Whois?

This phrase is a combination of the words “who” and “is.” Whois information is data that shows who owns a domain name, how long it has been in use, server information, the owner’s contact details, and the date the domain name registration period expires. On Fast Panda’s domain whois page, a whois query is available indefinitely and without cost.

Important: Some domain extensions permit the partial hiding of Whois data (registrant and contact information). However, SEO specialists have claimed that this conduct affects SEO efforts.

What Is Domain Backorder?

Sometimes domain owners forget to renew their registered domain names, and there are times when they let them expire because they no longer need the domain or because the business may have closed. A registered domain can be purchased using domain backorder, and monitoring notifies you when the domain is available.

How to Buy a Domain?

You must have an account with a company accredited to sell domains to purchase a domain. Opening a new user account to buy a cheap domain from fastpanda.co.uk typically takes one minute. You can search for the domain name you want to purchase using the domain search bar, add it to your shopping cart, and then use a credit card or bank transfer to pay for it. Then, you can immediately begin using the domain.

What Is ICANN?

“Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers,” or ICANN, is a non-profit organization and recognized institution that manages domain names and transactions globally. ICANN’s mission, established in 1998, is to provide global access to a stable and secure Internet.

How Does a Domain Work?

You can think of a domain as an address book in general terms. Namely, when a user types this domain name into a browser to access a website, a connection is established to the nearest DNS server, and the information of this domain name is queried. If this information is unavailable on the connected DNS server, it is queried again on another DNS server. This process continues until the relevant record is found. Then the DNS server sends the found information to the user’s computer to connect to the website with this information.

What Is TLD? 

TLD stands for “Top Level Domains.” Domain name extensions like .com, .net, .org, .biz, and .co are examples of TLD domain extensions.

What Is ccTLD? 

It stands for “country code top-level domain.” The domain extensions like .cn, .tk, .tr, .uk, .de, .es, and, .fr are examples of ccTLDs.

Why Are Domains Important for Businesses? 

Before purchasing a product or service from any business, consumers search for that business or service online; businesses with a website stand out more than others. One of the most important aspects of a business is its domain. These days, the number of domain names is increasing while the number of catchy, short, and simple domain names is decreasing. Businesses should protect their brand’s name by registering domain extensions with their names, even if they don’t have a website.

What Do You Need to Build a Website With a Domain?

To set up a website, you need a hosting package as well as a domain service. You can publish your website by uploading it to the hosting package.

At Fast Panda, several web hosting packages are available for you to choose. You can begin by choosing your domain name and registering your website’s domain name with the help of our top-notch domain service.

What Is DNS and How to Make DNS Settings of a Domain Name?

DNS stands for “Domain Name System.” It can be thought of as the internet’s phone book, as it converts easy-to-remember names (fastpanda.co.uk) to an IP address. You can easily configure the DNS settings for the domain name from the domain management panel of the company you have purchased. All companies that provide domains have such a panel.

What Is Domain Transfer, and When Should You Transfer Your Domain?

Domain transfer is the process of transferring your previously registered domain name to another company. For example, by transferring your domain name from company X to company Y, you can perform all management functions in company Y. You can transfer if the renewal price is too high, you are unhappy with your current company, or you find a good deal. Here at Fast Panda, you can easily transfer your domain name in just four easy steps, so that you don’t have to worry about those tedious procedures.

What Is Domain Parking?

By directing your domain name to a parking server, you can perform many operations, such as site forwarding, domain forwarding, an under-construction page, and DNS management. At Fast Panda’s free parking page, you can register a domain name at the most economical price all year long, avoiding surprise prices at renewal time.

What Is a Dropped Domain?

Dropped domains are available to register as new websites. Their old owners abandoned them, and they are now up for grabs. These domains may be registered by anyone who wishes to do so. This process, however, requires that a new owner provide something of value in exchange for the site extension. If you want to own a specific domain, make sure you check whether the owner has decided to continue using the domain or not first.