Behind every website you visit is a domain name - the friendly address that saves you from remembering long strings of numbers. But how do domain names actually work? This guide explains the whole system simply, from the address bar to the server that sends the page.

Table of Contents

What Is a Domain Name?

A domain name is your website's address, like filofa.com. Computers find websites using numbers called IP addresses (e.g. 203.0.113.5), but people cannot memorise numbers for every site. Domain names translate the name you remember into the number computers need.

DNS: The Internet's Address Book

The Domain Name System (DNS) is the phonebook of the internet. When you type a domain into your browser, DNS finds the matching IP address and connects you:

  1. Your browser asks a DNS server for the site's address.
  2. The DNS server finds the correct record - usually in seconds.
  3. Your browser connects to that server and downloads the page.

When you change hosting, you update your DNS nameservers to point to the new server - this is how moving hosts works without changing your domain.

How Domain Registration Works

Domains are registered through registrars (companies like Filofa authorised to sell domains). When you register yourname.com:

  1. The registrar checks the name is available.
  2. You pay the registration fee (usually 1-3 years at a time).
  3. The domain is added to the central registry with you as the registrant.
  4. You must renew before it expires to keep ownership.

Parts of a Domain Name

  • Top-level domain (TLD): the ending - .com, .net, .org, .com.bd.
  • Second-level domain: your chosen name - the filofa in filofa.com.
  • Subdomain: a prefix like blog.filofa.com - useful for organising content.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a domain name cost?

A .com domain costs around ৳1,000-1,300 per year in Bangladesh. Country-specific TLDs like .com.bd have their own pricing and rules. See domain pricing.

Can I buy a domain forever?

No - registrations are for fixed periods (usually up to 10 years) and must be renewed. Set auto-renewal so you never lose your domain.

Your domain is the front door to your website - short, memorable and renewable. Understand how it works, protect it, and pair it with reliable hosting.