Understanding Domain Names

If a domain name is available, and provided it does not infringe on an existing trademark, anyone can register the name for a fee through domain registrars.

If you plan to register your own domain name, whether it's a .com or not, keep these tips in mind:

• The shorter the name, the better.
• The name should be easy to remember.
• It should be easy to type without making mistakes.
• Remember, the Internet is global. Ideally, a domain name will "read" in a language other than English.

In addition to the generic top-level domains, 244 national top-level domains (NTLD) were established for countries and territories, for example:

.au - Australia

.ca - Canada

.fr - France

.de - Germany

.in - India

.uk - United Kingdom

Here's a list of national top-level domains.

You can register an international domain name with Net Names. Be aware that some countries have restrictions for registering names.

Last update: Jan 11, 2011