I am interested in getting my own dot com name. How much money do they cost? Where can I get one?
The official terminology for a “dot com name” is a domain name, and they can be purchased from registrars for a small fee.
The basics of “dot coms”
A dot com — domain — name is basically a pointer. Every device that’s connected to the Internet has a numerical address called an “IP Address” that enables you to find that device, be it a desktop computer, a blackberry, a web server or a cellphone. These numerical IP addresses are akin to street addresses. Network engineers designed the domain name system to eliminate the need for you to remember all of these cryptic numerical addresses — instead, all you need to remember is the human-readable domain name (”dot com”) that points to the numerical address.
How to get a “dot com”
The registration of domain names is carried out by companies called “registrars”. If you want your own domain name, you need to purchase it from a registrar.
Some suggested domain name registrars are:
Due to competition between the numerous registrars in business, domain names are relatively cheap. Most names can be had for around US$10 per year.
Should you buy a domain name, be aware that all domain names expire. Your registrar will inform you of your domain name’s expiration date, before which you will need to renew it for a fee. Once you lose a domain name, it’s likely that someone else will pick it up. After that, the odds if you getting it back cheaply are pretty slim.
Tip: If your desired domain name is available, don’t linger for too long before making a decision on whether or not to purchase it. Domain names are a hot commodity, and the good ones don’t stay available forever.
Does having a “dot com” mean that I have a website?
No, it does not. Having a domain name only means that you own a domain name. A website is an entity that works in conjunction with a domain name, but is not the same thing. Domain names only serve to point to the servers (special computers) where websites are hosted.
Speaking of web hosting, you need it if you want to have a website. Web hosting is a contract between you and a hosting provider, wherein the host provides a space for your website to live 24/7 in exchange for a (usually) monthly fee. These monthly web hosting fees are completely separate from the costs of buying and renewing a domain name through a registrar.
Some suggested website hosting providers are:
Notice that we listed DreamHost twice, as both a domain name registrar and a web hosting provider. Many companies perform both of these functions, as is the case with DreamHost.
