What is a Domain name?
Like a phone number, a domain name is a unique identifier that points to a specific site on the World Wide Web (www). Every computer on the Internet has a unique numeric Internet Protocol (IP) address, such as "131.215.3.29". These numbers are not user friendly and do not indicate the content of the address.
A domain name is easier to remember. It can also indicate the content of the website. Driving-school.co.za is much easier to remember than "131.215.3.29", so if you need driving lessons, you'll definitely be interested in this site.
A domain name usually works like a reverse telephone area code. The first section of the name refers to the specific site, the second is the general category to which the site belongs, and the third section is the country code in which the site is registered. For example, fnb.co.za links to the First National Bank website. This website is registered in the South African (za) commercial (co) domain. A domain name server is a computer that receives the domain name, looks up the associated IP address, and sends that address to your computer so that it can connect you to the website you want to visit.
