Domain Names, DNS, and How to Get a .com — From Names to Infrastructure
Summary
The digital infrastructure that allows us to browse the internet intuitively is built on a complex yet fascinating system. Behind every website we visit lies a network of domain names, IP addresses, and servers working together to deliver a seamless experience.
Understanding how domain names work is essential for anyone building an online presence—whether for a personal project, a startup, or a professional brand.
This article gives you a clear mental model of how domains, DNS, and TLDs work in practice.
What Are Domain Names and Why Are They Important?
Domain names exist to solve a very human problem.
Computers identify each other using IP addresses—long numeric sequences that are extremely hard to remember. In the early days of the internet, these mappings were stored in a shared file called hosts, manually distributed among internet providers.
That approach worked… until the internet exploded.
To scale globally, the Domain Name System (DNS) was created: a distributed database that translates human‑friendly names like:
platzi.com
into machine‑readable IP addresses.
Without DNS, you would need to remember numbers instead of names.
Domain Name Rules (The Basics)
Domain names follow a few important rules:
- Traditionally used only English letters (today, international characters like ñ are supported via IDNs)
- Usually start with a letter, not a number
- Case‑insensitive
- Must end with a Top‑Level Domain (TLD)
Top‑Level Domains (TLDs) Explained
TLDs are the suffixes that appear at the end of domain names.
Common TLDs
- .com — commercial websites (most popular)
- .org — originally for non‑profits
- .net — originally for network providers
Restricted TLDs
- .gov / .gob — government entities
- .mil — military organizations
- .edu — accredited educational institutions
Country‑Specific TLDs
- .co — Colombia
- .es — Spain
- .jp — Japan
Some countries use compound domains:
- United Kingdom →
.co.uk - Spain →
.es
New TLDs
Recent years introduced many modern TLDs:
.info.promo.love-
.ai(now highly valuable due to artificial intelligence)
Buying a Domain ≠ Having a Website
Buying a domain only gives you the right to point a name to an IP address.
Think of it like:
Buying a street address without owning the building.
To acquire a domain:
- Check name availability
- Choose a TLD
- Purchase it (usually 1–10 years)
⚠️ Recommendation: Avoid GoDaddy due to questionable practices, such as buying searched domains and reselling them at higher prices.
Domain Privacy (WHOIS Protection)
Without privacy enabled:
- Your name
- Physical address
…are publicly visible via WHOIS.
Always enable domain privacy unless you have a specific reason not to.
DNS Records — How Domains Actually Work
Once you own a domain, you configure it using DNS records.
A Records
Point a domain to an IP address.
freddyvega.com → 209.97.145.61
CNAME Records
Create aliases or subdomains.
docs.google.com
Here, docs is a subdomain pointing to another hostname.
TXT Records
Used for:
- Domain ownership verification
- Email security (SPF, DKIM)
- Service configuration
Domain Age & SEO
Search engines often treat:
- Older domains
- Domains registered for longer periods (5–10 years)
as more trustworthy—not a guarantee, but a positive signal.
Final Thoughts
Domain names are the entry point to digital identity.
Once you understand:
- DNS
- TLDs
- Records
- IP mapping
You stop seeing the web as magic—and start seeing it as structured, logical infrastructure.
What domain name would you choose for your next project?
Share your ideas and keep building strong software engineering fundamentals.
✍️ Written for developers who want to understand the internet—not just use it.
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