Domain Name Terms

This will be a list of domain name terms that areplace.Redemption: The redemption grace period is a
commonly used in the industry. I hope this eases sometime frame lasting roughly 30 days. A domain name will
confusion or at least educates a few people out there.go into the redemption status after a registrar deletes
There's nothing more frustrating than talking tothe domain name record from their internal database.
customer service and not understanding the wordsThis does not mean the domain is deleted and
they're saying.Administrative Contact: Theavailable for public purchase. The domain can still be
administrative contact is an individual authorized toredeemed but it must go back to the previous owner
make certain changes to a domain name on behalf ofand there are usually very steep fees to do so. Also,
the registrant. This person will tyically have the ability toyou may only redeem the domain name with the
transfer a domain name, so it's recommended to beregistrar it was previously registered with.Registrant:
someone the registrant trusts.Appraising: Evaluating aThis is considered the owner of the domain name.
domain name and determining the value of that domainTypically this information cannot be changed easily to
in the market.Country Code: These are special TLD'sensure the domain name does not leave the hands of
that refer to a specific country. For example, .us is thethe owner.Registrant Name Change Agreement
United States while .ca is Canada.Deactivation: This(RNCA): This is the process of changing information
refers to a domain name no longer being in the "zonefor a registrant such as the name of the person or
files". The domain servers no longer have access tocompany who owns the domain name. This is usually
the domain name's data, and any websites or emailconsidered a domain transfer, but happens within the
addresses associated with the domain name willregistrar from one account to another. It is important to
become inactive. A domain that is deactivated may stillnote that it occurs within the same
be renewed.Deletion: This is when a domain has goneregistrar.Registration: The process of purchasing a
through the entire life cycle of a domain name and willdomain name. Once a new domain name has been
be deleted from the registry's master list. Once apurchased it is considered "registered".Registrar: A
domain name is deleted, it instantly becomes availableregistrar is a company that is able to sell domain
for public purchase.Domain Name: The letters ornames to the public. Registrars purchase their domains
words typed into a web browser that signifies afrom the registries for each TLD.Registry: A registry is
website.Domain Name Dispute: This refers to a disputea company that holds a master list of all registered
over who owns a given domain name. This can alsodomain names for the TLD they represent. For
happen when a domain name is similar to anotherinstance, VeriSign is the registry for COM and NET, but
domain that is trademarked by someone. There is athe Public Interest Registry is the registry for ORG.
policy that defines this process called Domain NameThey do not sell domains to the public, but rather sell
Dispute Policy.Domain Servers: Usually referred to asdomains to registrars.Renew: When a domain name
DNS (Domain Name System). These hold records orreaches its expiration date it will eventually go into the
data for a domain name. Most registrars require atdeletion cycle. It is important that a domain owner who
least two domain servers to be set for a domainwishes to keep the domain name renew it. The owner
name. These tell computers around the world how towould pay for another registration term and keep the
find the domain name and view the appropriate webdomain name. Please note that anyone can renew
page, or deliver an email message. They do theany domain name. You do not have to be the owner
"mapping" on the internet highway.DNS: See "Domainor even associated with the domain name to renew it,
Servers"Escrow: A third party service that is usedhowever, the ownership never changes when a
during the sale of a domain name from one person todomain is renewed.Reseller: There are many
another. These companies will hold the buyer's moneycompanies out there that resell a domain name.
until the transfer of the domain name is complete. ThisTypically someone registers a domain name at the
ensures that both the buyer and the seller arereseller's website and then the reseller registers the
protected during the transaction.Host: This is thedomain name on your behalf with a registrar. In almost
computer or server that contains the data for theall cases, if you purchase a domain name through a
domain name such as a website or email. Thesereseller, you must use them for support. If your reseller
computers or servers are typically owned by a hostingwon't support you, you should call the registrar
company or web host.ICANN: Internet Corporation forimmediately and file a complaint. Ask if there is a way
Assigned Names and Numbers - A non profitto leave the reseller's account and use one of your
organization that handles IP address space allocationown. Be warned that the prices the registrar offers
and most other regulatory tasks associated withyou may not be the same as the reseller
domain names. They make the rules for howoffered.Resolve: This is commonly used to describe if
registrars and registries can behave.IP Address" Aa website appears when you type in a domain name.
numerical address that computers use to route data inIf the site does not appear, then it is considered to not
the format of (123.123.123.123). When you type in abe resolving. Technically, it is when the domain name is
domain name, it actually finds its IP Address and sendstied to an IP address regardless if there is a website
the user to that IP.Parking: This is a type of hostingor not.Subdomain: A domain name has three parts. In
style that can be used for any domain name. When athe example each part is separated by a dot (.). The
domain is "parked" there is no real website or content.first part (www) is a subdomain. The second part
Usually people will park domain names as a temporary(domainname) is a domain name and the third part
solution until they have found a hosting company to(com) is a Top Level Domain or TLD.Top Level
use.Private Registration: This is also known as WHOISDomain: Commonly known as TLD - this is the last
Privacy services. This will put alternate information inpart of a domain name (.com, .net, .org are all
the WHOIS record for a domain name. This is useful ifTLD's).Transfer: This refers to the process of taking a
you wish to keep your contact informationdomain name from one registrar and giving it to
private.Propagation: The process where name serversanother. The actual registrar changes and the
throughout the world add new domains and removeregistrant information can potentially change as well.
expired ones from their records. This can takeThis is not to be confused with changing the DNS on a
anywhere between a few minutes and 72 hoursdomain name. You don't want to call your registrar and
depending on a number of factors. Please note that ainitiate a transfer of the domain name by accident as
registrar cannot make this go faster for your domainyou can potentially lose the domain name! Also note
name. When you change your DNS or register a newthat the domain name may only be transferred if it
domain name, propagation must takemeets the transfer requirements delegated by ICANN.