How it works
Computers find each other by IP address, a string of numbers; domain names exist so people do not have to remember them. A name reads from right to left: in shop.example.com, .com is the top-level domain, example is the part you register, and shop is a subdomain you can create yourself, free and as many as you like.
A domain is rented, not owned. You register it for one to ten years through a registrar and keep it as long as you renew. If it lapses, a grace period and then a costly redemption period follow, after which anyone can register it, and expired names that still get traffic are quickly snapped up for resale. Registering the name, running its DNS and hosting the site are three separate jobs, even when one company sells all three.
Domain name pricing
Paid
A .com costs about $11 to $23 a year depending on the registrar, typically about ₹1,300 in India; a .in about ₹800. First-year deals often renew higher.
Domain name pricing page (opens in a new tab)Approximate, checked September 2026.What the other tools cost
Domain name vs the alternatives
Related terms
More in How the web works
Names and addresses