A domain name is the address people type to reach you on the internet, such as example.org. It is the human-friendly name for a place online, in the same way that a street address is easier to remember than map coordinates.
The parts of a domain
Read a domain from right to left. In bakery.example.org:
.orgis the top-level domain, often called the extension. Others include.com,.net,.devand country codes such as.ukor.ca.exampleis the second-level domain. This is the part you choose and register.bakeryis a subdomain. Whoever holdsexample.orgcan create as many of these as they like.
Who is in charge
Each extension is run by a registry, an organization that keeps the master list of every name registered under it. You do not deal with the registry directly. Instead you register through a registrar, a company accredited to sell names on the registry’s behalf. For generic extensions such as .com and .org, the overall rules are coordinated by ICANN, a global nonprofit.
What you get when you register
You do not buy a domain outright. You register the right to use it for a term, usually a year, and you keep that right by renewing before it expires. During that time, you decide where the name points: to a website, an email service, or both.
A domain on its own does not include a website or an inbox. Think of it as the address on the front door. The building behind it, your website hosting and email service, is a separate piece that you connect using settings called DNS.
Why it matters
A domain is portable. You can change website builders, email providers or hosting companies and keep the same address, so people can always find you. It is also a signal of seriousness: an email from hello@yourbusiness.com reads differently from a free webmail address.