How domain names work
"Visiting a website" is something that everyone does every day. It's a simple phrase, but in reality it's a multi-step process that requires the interplay of several essential " parts ".
How does a browser display a website?
Via a domain name!
When you visit a website, you often start by entering the domain name in the browser's address bar. For example, you may have typed "www.gandi.net" to arrive at Gandi's website.
Such a domain is made up of several parts: gandi (the second-level domain), .net (the top-level domain), and www (a subdomain).
Gandi's core business is to be a registrar, i.e. to register domain names (the domain name + the top-level domain) with the relevant registries on behalf of its customers.
Extensions aka TLDs
The extension (also called TLD or Top Level Domain) of a domain name refers to the letters after the dot in a domain name. In "gandi.net", the extension is ".net". Other common extensions include .com, .org, .gov and .edu. There are also country-based extensions, such as .fr for France or .br for Brazil. In addition to these, there are a wide variety of "generic" extensions focusing on a particular subject, such as .dev, .family or .app.
To be able to offer you the opportunity to register a domain name in a specific extension, a registrar (like Gandi) must be certified by the Registry that manages that extension. For this reason, different registrars will offer different extensions, each with their own rules. Gandi is proud to offer domain name registration for over 700 different extensions.
Second-level domains (SLD or 2LD)
Second-level domains refer to a set of letters (usually a name or word) that forms the "name" (or middle) of your domain name. In "example.com", "example" is the second or intermediate level domain. It's with this Domain that you'll really tell your visitors what your website is all about. You can use our "Suggest" (Domain Search) tool to see if the intermediate level domain is available in the "example" extension or in others: shop.gandi.net/en/
Subdomains
A subdomain is the part of a website that is separated by a dot, before the second-level domain. The subdomain can be used to separate your website into several sections, or even to create several websites with slightly “different” addresses. For example, a website might have a "blog.example.com" sub-domain to display a blog, and a "shop.example.com" sub-domain that would redirect to an online store. The owner of a domain name can potentially create an "infinite" number of subdomains of his choice for his domain, at no extra cost. This is done by configuring the DNS records of the domain associated with the website(s).
IP address
An IP address is the unique number assigned to each computer connecting to the Internet, e.g. 172.16.254.1 (IP address v4) or 2001:db8:0:1234:0:567:8:1 (IP address v6). When a computer communicates with another via the Internet, they each look for the other's IP address to establish communication and ensure that messages arrive at the right place.
Every website has a domain name and a unique IP address. So why use only the domain name? The domain name is like your company name - it's a name chosen to represent who you are and what you do. The IP address is like your postal address, and points to a specific location on the network.
And let's face it, it's easier to remember "example.com" than 172.16.254.1.
Server
A computer which delivers the content of a website is called a server. Since you want people to see your website whenever they want, a server is a special kind of computer that is always on and always online. Imagine if people could only view your website when your own personal computer was turned on and happened to be connected to the internet. Viewers would quickly give up on your website because they would never know when it was available. The word “server” is used to refer to any kind of computer that is designed to be constantly available.
Web Host
Maintaining a server is often a difficult prospect. Keeping a computer constantly running takes a lot of maintenance. It is also important to keep the software on a server up to date to protect from potential security risks. Like any computer, servers also sometimes break and need to be replaced.
While some people do maintain their own servers, many people turn to a web host to maintain their servers for them. A web host is a company that provides space on servers which customers can rent to host their website content. The hosting company does all the work necessary to make sure the servers are properly cared for, up to date, and always on. They also have systems in place to keep websites going when an individual server breaks, when there is a power outage, or when there is especially high traffic.
Gandi’s Web Hosting is an additional service that Gandi offers for users who are looking for a web host as well as a domain name. We strive to offer a service that is easy to use for beginners while also offering a wide range of technical options for more advanced users.
Nameserver
A nameserver is a special type of server that tells browsers which IP address is associated with a particular domain name. In order for different computers all across the world to find each other, there is an interconnected system of nameservers that are continually exchanging information about which IP addresses are associated with each domain name. This system, also known as the Domain Name System, is like a giant address book that tells the world where to find your website. You tell this network of nameservers where to find your website when you manage the DNS records associated with your website.
Many people find DNS records confusing at first, since they are written for computers to talk to other computers. At Gandi, we try to make your DNS records as accessible as we can, while still allowing advanced users the freedom to manage their domain just how they want. If you ever have a question about how to manage your DNS records you can check out our help pages about nameservers and DNS records, or you are always welcome to contact our support team for extra help when you need it.
SSL Certificate
When two computers send messages back and forth over the internet without encryption, the messages they send can be intercepted and read by individuals other than the intended recipients. To protect against this, website owners can create an SSL certificate which will allow them to use encryption when they send and receive data over the internet. Encryption means scrambling the message in a particular way so that only the intended recipient will be able to read the message.
Gandi offers SSL certificates to our users, and we even give you a free 1-year standard certificate with every domain purchase. If you’re not sure what SSL certificate you need, check out the full explanation of what we have to offer.
Content
We have discussed many different pieces that go into a website, but we still have not discussed the primary thing most people consider when they think of a website: the content. When you visit a website, the content is sent from the website’s server to your computer and displayed on your screen. This can include text, images, formatting, videos, or even interactive content. All of this information is sent from the server hosting the website to your computer, and then displayed on your screen.
For your website, the content will be something you create and then put on your server. Or, you can contract with a web developer who will help you create the content in your website. While Gandi doesn’t offer custom web development services, we do offer access to GoSitebuilder, a tool for building your own website without code. Or, with Web Hosting, you can install WordPress with a single click and get straight to creating content while using one of WordPress’s free themes.
While not a part of every visit to a website, sending and receiving email is an important part of your internet presence. When you purchase a domain name, you have the rights to any email addresses that end with that domain name (yourname@example.com, for example, where the domain name you purchased was example.com). To create an email address at a domain you purchased, we add a DNS record for your domain name that tells computers where your email should go.
Just as you need a server to host the content of your website, you also need a mail server which will send and receive your email for you.
Gandi has an email service which we make available as an additional feature for users who purchase domains from us. When you buy a domain name from Gandi you have the option to purchase email mailboxes at your domain, which are hosted by Gandi’s mail servers. You can create these mailboxes in your Gandi account and we will automatically make the appropriate changes to your DNS records.
When you view a website you use a browser, and when you view and send mail you use a mail client. Just like browsers, most computers come with a built in mail client, or you can download your own. You can learn how to set up your mail client to receive email from Gandi at our mail settings page.
Some mail clients, like gmail or yahoo mail, operate through a browser. Gandi also offers two free browser based webmail clients which are already set up to work with your Gandi email, Roundcube and SOGo. These are a great choice if you are looking for a simple and quick way to access your Gandi email address.
Conclusion
In order to have a website you must have all of the pieces mentioned above. You need a domain name, a server to host your content, and IP address for that server, a nameserver to tell other computers where to find your server, and content to deliver. If you are going to send and receive email you also need a mail server. All of these pieces are essential and work together to create a functioning website.