A domain name is what people type into a web browser to reach a particular website. Examples of domain names include boltdots.com, twitter.com and bbc.co.uk.
Domain names consist of two parts – the name and the extension. In our domain name examples, the names are “boltdots”, “twitter”, and “bbc” and the extensions are “.com”, and “.co.uk”
To register a domain name, you just need to decide what domain name you want and then buy it from a domain name registrar such as BoltDots.
All good registrars will have an easy-to-use search function which will make it easy for you to check if the domain you want is available and then purchase it.
Although it’s easy to get a domain name, you may find that the one you want is already taken. This means you may have to be flexible when registering a domain name.
This guide explains how to buy a domain name in more detail.
You can learn more about choosing a domain name in this guide.
The cost of a domain name will usually be between about $15-$30 per year. However, with special offers a domain name can cost as little as 1p for the first year.
If you’re trying to buy a domain name that is already owned by someone else, then you may have to pay much more. However, once you’ve bought the domain from its current owner, you will only pay the usual annual renewal fee.
Many web hosting companies offer a free domain name when you buy one of their packages.
For example, you can get a domain name for free with GoDaddy with our website builder, and many of our web hosting packages.
Some owners of domain extensions, such as the .tk extension, allow people to register free domain names. However, doing so usually means complying with more restrictions than with paid-for domain registration. Plus, in the case of .tk, domains that are registered for free remain the property of the company that owns the extension.
You can transfer a domain name to a new registrar by contacting the registrar you want to transfer the domain name to. You will then be sent a form to confirm that you want to transfer the domain name. You can learn more about how to transfer your domain to GoDaddy here.
If you want to transfer a domain name to another person, you will need to contact the registrar your domain is currently with.
You can buy a domain name without hosting. However, you need some sort of hosting to set up a website.
It can be a good idea to buy a domain name without hosting if you want to grab a particular domain while its available, but you aren’t yet ready to create a website.
Although you can buy a trademarked domain, doing so is likely to land you in legal trouble. At best, the trademark owner will raise a domain name dispute and take it from you. At worst, you could face legal action, fines and jail time for intellectual property crime.
Yes, you can change the domain name of your website. If your website is new, then changing its domain name should be quick and easy. Your hosting provider’s support section should contain instructions on how to do this.
However, if you want to change the domain name of a more established website, things get a bit more complicated. This is because changing a website’s domain name can have an impact on search engine optimisation. This guide explains more about changing the domain name of an established site.
Yes, you can use a hyphen in a domain name. However, including a hyphen in a domain name makes it harder to remember. That means you may want to choose a domain name without a hyphen.
No, capital letters do not matter in domain names. Domain names are not case sensitive. That means example.com is the same as Example.com, eXample.com and even EXAMPLE.com.
If you want to buy a domain name that someone else already owns, you have to identify the owner and then make them an offer.
Once you’ve reached an agreement, you’ll pay them the money and they’ll transfer the domain to you via your chosen domain registrar.
If you want to keep the domain, you’ll still need to renew it via the domain registrar.
You can use a domain broker service like the one offered by GoDaddy to buy a domain that someone else owns.
To sell a domain name you need to find someone willing to pay your asking price and, once everything is agreed, transfer the domain to their control.
If you want to sell a domain name you registered through GoDaddy, start with our domain appraisal tool which will give you an estimate of its value and then guide you through the selling process.
It’s not possible to permanently buy a domain name. Although we talk about buying domain names, it’s more like a leasing system. That said, as long as you keep renewing the domain name it will remain yours. If you’re keen to keep a domain name, you can turn on auto renewal and/or renew it for the maximum time your registrar allows.
Yes, you can create a website without a domain name, but only if you want your visitors to have to remember a random string of digits instead of your site’s name.
Even if you create a website using a free service like Blogger, you’ll still have domain name, albeit it one that you don’t own.
