What Happens When You Register a Domain (And Why Owning a TLD Is So Hard)
Ever wondered how the internet knows where to take you when you type in a web address? Today, I dove into the fascinating world of DNS (Domain Name System) and uncovered not just how domains work but also who controls them, how you can buy one, and whether you can own a top-level domain (like .com).
Owning a domain name might sound like claiming a piece of digital real estate, but it’s a bit more like renting. Let’s break it down into the key players who make this process work.
A domain registrar (like Porkbun, GoDaddy, or Namecheap) is where I go to buy my domain. These platforms are like online marketplaces where you search for and purchase domain names. When you find a domain you like (e.g., prashants.in) and pay the yearly fee (around $10–15), the registrar handles everything behind the scenes to make it yours. They:
A domain registry is the entity that operates the domains for a Top-Level Domain (TLD). For example, VeriSign operates all .com and .net TLDs. For .in, it’s NIXI (National Internet Exchange of India).
