GLOSSARY

  1.   DNS (Domain Name System)
  2.   Domain Name
  3.   Domain Name Registrar
  4.   Domain Parking
  5.   Domain Registrant
  6.   Domain Registry
  7.   Domain Name Transfer
  8.   ICANN
  9.   ISP
10.    Modify
11.    Name Servers
12.    Name Service (Primary or Secondary)
13.    Primary Server
14.    Second Level Domain (SLD)
15.    Top Level Domain (TLD)
16.    Web Hosting

Initially the Internet was built on the notion that any computer on a global network can be identified by its numeric Internet Protocol (IP) address. But since people, are the primary users of the Internet, a more people-friendly naming system called the Domain Name System (DNS) was invented

This System translates a domain name such as 1stDomain.net into Internet Protocol (IP) numbers to find the correct web site - in this case the site for 1stDomain.net. The data is then made available to all computers and users on the Internet.

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Domain Name
A domain name is essentially a signpost on the Internet. Almost every website you've ever been to, and every email you've ever composed, has used a domain name in its address.

People register domain names in order to 'stake a claim' to a particular name -- whether for business or personal reasons. Once you register a domain name, it is entirely yours, no other party may use that identity online as long as you continue to pay the yearly renewal fee and abide by the terms of use.

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Domain Name Registrar
A registrar or "Domain Name Registrar" is any entity, organization like 1stDomain.net that acts on behalf of a registrant regarding domain name requests or modifications. For .COM, .NET, and .ORG names domain name requests and modifications must be submitted through a registrar.

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Domain Parking
Registrars 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 they own name servers, therefore our Registrar 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.

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Domain Registrant
A registrant is the person or company who registers a domain name. For example, Joe Smith (registrant) registers the name joesmith.com through 1stDomain.net (registrar) who in turn submits the name to the central database (Registry).

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Domain Registry
The organization responsible for the administration and maintenance to a top-level domain database is known as the registry. The registry is where registrars go for new domain names or to modify existing domain name. This is a US government contracted database.

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Domain Name Transfer
The term 'transfer' refers to when Domain names are sold to another individual or organization or the name of a company might change. The Registrar has a process by which permission from the old owner is required to hand over control to the new owner. The procedure for change of ownership is known as a Registrant Transfer.

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ICANN 
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the non-profit corporation that was formed to assume responsibility for the IP address space allocation, protocol parameter assignment, domain name system management, and root server system management functions. For more information about ICANN, you can visit their web site at: http://www.icann.org

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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.

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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.

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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. You can Log In using your User ID and Password after you have registered a domain name and make on-line modifications to your contact record and DNS information.

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Name Servers
Nameservers (or Domain Name Servers) are the machines that perform the DNS function by providing the mapping of domain names to IP addresses.

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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. 1stDomain.net offers both primary and secondary name service for all domain names registered through us.

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Primary Server
On our Registrars 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 Registration 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 Registration Agreement is completed properly.

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Second Level Domain (SLD)
Second Level Domains is the next highest level of the hierarchy underneath the Top Level Domains. In the example, 1stDomain.net - the "1stDomain.net" part is the second level domain. Second level domain names are what you register in a Top Level Domain registry.

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Top Level Domain (TLD)
Top Level Domains is the portion of a traditional domain name that comes after the dot. So, in 1stDomain.net, the top level domain is .net. The generic top level domains (gTLDs) are .com, .net and .org; The other type of TLDs are the country code Top Level Domains (ccTLD) which are assigned to all countries and their dependencies such as .ca for Canada.

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Web Hosting
The World Wide Web is a massive collection of web sites, all hosted on computers (called web servers) all over the world. The web server (computer) where your web site's html files, graphics, etc. reside is known as the web host. Web hosting clients simply upload their web sites to a shared (or dedicated) webserver, which the ISP maintains to ensure a constant, fast connection to the Internet.

A Web Hosting company provides you space on their web server which allows you anyone on the Internet to view your web site. Web Hosts charge on a monthly basis and provide differing levels of service.

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