Image: What is a .net domain and what does it mean?Rawpixel.comShutterstock

What is a .net domain and what does it mean?

The .net domain is one of the oldest and most widely recognised top-level domains. If you’re wondering what a .net domain is, the name originally comes from ‘network’, and it serves a purpose very similar to the .com extension. Thanks to its global recognition, .net addresses are…

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Image: What is typosquatting?focal pointshutterstock

What is typosquatting?

Typosquatting exploits simple typing mistakes to redirect users to fake or misleading websites. What sounds harmless is now often part of professional phishing campaigns against businesses and individuals. Learn how typosquatting works, what risks it poses, and how to protect…

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Image: What is domain parking?pathdocShutterstock

What is domain parking?

Not every unused domain has to be abandoned right away. With domain parking, a web address can remain temporarily active, generate advertising revenue, and make use of existing traffic. This is ideal for preserving a domain’s value, allowing time for new projects, or attracting…

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Image: Should you buy, register or rent a domain?ESB ProfessionalShutterstock

Should you buy, register or rent a domain?

Buying or registering a domain, what is the difference? There are different ways to acquire a domain. While available domains can be registered through any domain provider, the usage rights for domains that have already been registered must be acquired from the current owner. We…

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Image: What types of domain are there?GrandeDucShutterstock

What types of domain are there?

When dealing with web addresses, you’ll come across a variety of terms such as top-level domain, second-level domain, subdomain, ccTLD (country-code top-level domain), and gTLD (generic top-level domain). What do these different domain types mean, and how many—or which—domain…

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Image: What is domain mapping and how does it work?GrandeDucShutterstock

What is domain mapping and how does it work?

Domain mapping is a term that’s becoming increasingly common in modern website development. When used correctly, domain name mapping can greatly simplify your online presence. Instead of being found on the internet under just one domain, you can secure several matching URLs —…

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Image: What is RDAP? The new WHOIS protocolmrdaro28Shutterstock

What is RDAP? The new WHOIS protocol

The replacement of WHOIS with RDAP marks an important step in the development of the internet. RDAP provides more data protection, higher flexibility and is better suited to the future. For domain holders, the switch mostly brings benefits without requiring any action. In this…

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Domain Trading: How to Sell a Domain Name

Does a web address have a price? Yes, you can make money with domains. If the demand is high enough, you can even make high profits through domain trading. However, it’s not enough to just own any web address and hope for the best. To successfully buy and sell domains, there are…

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How to get your domain back after losing domain control

When a website suddenly stops responding and you realise you’ve lost domain control, you’re faced with a critical situation. Is it just a technical bug or have cyber criminals possibly hijacked the website? It is important to quickly determine the cause. In this article, we show…

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Image: What is the Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP)?PeshkovaShutterstock

What is the Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP)?

For years, a successor to the domain query protocol Whois has been in development. For several reasons the protocol, developed at the same time as the internet predecessor ARPANET, is no longer regarded as modern or up to date. But now the Registration Data Access Protocol (RDAP)…

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Domains

Domain expertise: a closer look at website addresses with IONOS’s Domain Guide

Domains represent the basic name of a website (e.g. ionos.com). They are clear and unique addresses that are extended through subdomains and subpages. They can be purchased from a domain provider as long as you comply with certain criteria. There are many things you should know regarding web addresses; it isn’t as simple as choosing a domain name and then registering it. As part of the IONOS Digital Guide, our domain portal provides comprehensive information about internet addresses and their components. Under the ‘Domain’ category you will find both basic articles and more complex ones for more advanced readers.

IONOS’s Domain Guide at a glance

Our Domain Guide is divided into four subcategories. The heading ‘domain extensions’ deals with the various top-level domains, like .org or .com. Besides the (traditional) generic and country-specific top-level domains, we also introduce many new web address extensions and examine their potential. Under the heading ‘domain registration’ you can obtain advice on domain registration, forwarding, and transfers as well as other administrative matters relating to internet addresses. News and backgrounds can be found in our ‘domain news’ section. Finally, we provide you with facts, suggestions, and recommendations with regard to naming and registering your internet address. All together, these subcategories form an extensive domain portal where you can expand your knowledge on domains.

Domain expertise for everyone

The target audience is just as varied as the contents of the Domain Guide, as it’s made up of small and medium-sized businesses as well as website operators, domain traders, and inquisitive readers. As is the case for all categories of IONOS’s Digital Guide, the domain guide also caters to both novices  and experienced users. Posts such as ‘What is a domain?’ Or ‘The most important tips for domain registration’, don’t require any previous knowledge before reading. Articles like ‘How to protect your domain from ‘typo squatting’ or ‘Domain parking: earning easy money with unused domains’ appeal more to skilled readers. Our domain guide is an extensive online reference that should come in handy for both private and business contexts.