Domain Name Glossary

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Aftermarket: The secondary market where previously registered domain names are bought and sold between parties. Domain aftermarket platforms include marketplaces, auction sites, and broker services that facilitate these transactions. See our guide to domain aftermarket marketplaces.
Auth Code (EPP Code / Transfer Code): A unique authorization code required to transfer a domain name from one registrar to another. This code acts as a security measure to prevent unauthorized transfers. Learn more in our guide on how domain transfers work.
Auto-Renewal: A registrar feature that automatically renews your domain registration before it expires, preventing accidental loss. Most registrars offer auto-renewal and charge the renewal fee to your payment method on file.

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Backorder: A service that attempts to register a domain name on your behalf the moment it becomes available after expiring. Backordering is useful for acquiring in-demand domains that are about to drop, though success is not guaranteed.
Brand Protection: The practice of registering domain names across multiple TLDs and variations to prevent cybersquatting and protect your brand identity online. This may include registering common misspellings and different extensions of your primary domain.
Bulk Registration: The process of registering multiple domain names at once, typically at a discounted rate. Businesses often use bulk registration for brand protection or to secure domains for multiple projects simultaneously.

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ccTLD (Country Code Top-Level Domain): A two-letter top-level domain assigned to a specific country or territory, such as .uk (United Kingdom), .de (Germany), or .jp (Japan). Some ccTLDs have residency requirements, while others like .co and .io are widely used for general purposes.
CNAME Record: A DNS record type that maps an alias domain name to another canonical domain name. CNAME records are commonly used to point subdomains like www.example.com to the main domain or to a hosting provider's server.
Cybersquatting: The practice of registering domain names that incorporate trademarks or brand names with the intent to profit from the goodwill of someone else's trademark. Cybersquatting is illegal under the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA) and can be challenged through UDRP proceedings.

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DNS (Domain Name System): The internet's system for converting human-readable domain names (like example.com) into IP addresses that computers use to identify each other. DNS is often described as the "phone book of the internet" and is essential for website and email functionality.
Domain Auction: A competitive bidding process where domain names are sold to the highest bidder within a set timeframe. Auctions are held on aftermarket platforms and are a common method for selling premium or expired domains. See our aftermarket marketplaces guide.
Domain Broker: A professional who acts as an intermediary to negotiate the purchase or sale of a domain name on behalf of a client. Brokers provide anonymity, market expertise, and negotiation skills to help clients acquire domains at fair prices. Learn more about domain concierge and broker services.
Domain Concierge: A premium, full-service domain acquisition service that handles every aspect of purchasing a domain on your behalf, from initial research and outreach to negotiation and transfer. DomainBuyer.com offers a domain concierge service to simplify the process.
Domain Flipping: The practice of buying domain names at a low price and reselling them for a profit, similar to real estate flipping. Successful domain flippers identify undervalued domains with commercial potential and sell them on the aftermarket.
Domain Hack: A domain name that combines the second-level domain and the TLD to spell out a word or phrase, such as del.icio.us or bit.ly. Domain hacks are popular for creating short, memorable URLs and are often used in branding.
Domain Hijacking: The unauthorized transfer or takeover of a domain name, typically through social engineering, exploiting security vulnerabilities, or gaining access to the registrant's account. Domain hijacking is a serious threat that can be prevented with strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and transfer locks.
Domain Name: A human-readable address used to identify a website on the internet, such as domainbuyer.com. Domain names consist of a second-level domain (the name you choose) and a top-level domain (the extension like .com or .org).
Domain Parking: The practice of registering a domain name and displaying placeholder content, typically pay-per-click advertisements, without developing a full website. Domain parking generates revenue from ad clicks while the owner decides how to use or sell the domain.
Domain Privacy (WHOIS Privacy): A service offered by registrars that replaces your personal contact information in the public WHOIS database with proxy information. This protects you from spam, unwanted solicitations, and potential identity theft. Read our guide on domain privacy protection.
Domain Squatting: See Cybersquatting. Domain squatting specifically refers to registering domains containing trademarks or brand names with the intent to sell them back to the trademark holder at an inflated price.
Drop Catching: The practice of registering a domain name immediately after it expires and becomes available for general registration. Drop catching services use automated systems to attempt registration the instant a domain is released, as desirable expired domains are highly competitive.

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EPP Code: See Auth Code (EPP Code / Transfer Code). EPP stands for Extensible Provisioning Protocol, the standard protocol used for domain registration and transfer operations.
Escrow: A secure third-party service that holds funds during a domain name transaction until both buyer and seller fulfill their obligations. Escrow protects both parties by ensuring the domain is transferred before payment is released. Services like Escrow.com are commonly used for high-value domain sales.
Expired Domain: A domain name whose registration period has ended without being renewed by the registrant. Expired domains go through a grace period and redemption period before becoming available for public registration again.

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Forward (Domain Forwarding / Redirect): A configuration that automatically redirects visitors from one domain name to another URL. Domain forwarding is useful for directing traffic from alternate domains, misspellings, or old domains to your primary website.

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gTLD (Generic Top-Level Domain): A category of top-level domains that are not associated with a specific country, including classic extensions like .com, .net, and .org, as well as newer options like .app, .shop, and .tech. gTLDs are managed by ICANN-accredited registries.
Grace Period: A window of time after a domain expires during which the original registrant can still renew it at the standard renewal price. Grace periods typically last 1-45 days depending on the registrar and TLD, after which additional fees may apply.

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Hosting: A service that provides the server space and infrastructure needed to make a website accessible on the internet. While domain registration gives you the address, hosting provides the physical location where your website's files are stored and served to visitors.
HTTPS / SSL: HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) is the encrypted version of HTTP, secured by an SSL/TLS certificate. An SSL certificate encrypts data between a visitor's browser and the web server, protecting sensitive information and boosting search engine rankings.

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ICANN: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, the nonprofit organization that coordinates the global internet's systems of unique identifiers, including domain names and IP addresses. ICANN accredits domain registrars and oversees the domain name system's policies and operations.
IDN (Internationalized Domain Name): A domain name that contains characters from non-Latin scripts, such as Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, or Hindi. IDNs allow users worldwide to access websites using domain names in their native languages and character sets.

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Nameserver: A server that translates domain names into IP addresses as part of the Domain Name System (DNS). When you update your domain's nameservers, you're telling the internet which servers should handle your domain's DNS records, including where your website and email are hosted.
New gTLD: Top-level domains introduced through ICANN's New gTLD Program, which began accepting applications in 2012 and has since added hundreds of new extensions like .blog, .store, .xyz, and .online. New gTLDs offer more naming options beyond traditional extensions.

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Premium Domain: A domain name that is considered especially valuable due to its length, keywords, brandability, or existing traffic, and commands a higher-than-average price. Premium domains are often short, memorable, and contain commercially significant terms. See our domain valuation guide.
Privacy Protection: See Domain Privacy (WHOIS Privacy). Privacy protection shields your personal information from the public WHOIS database, reducing spam and protecting your identity.
Propagation: The process by which DNS changes (such as updating nameservers or DNS records) spread across the global network of DNS servers. Propagation can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours, during which different users may see different versions of your site.

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Redemption Period: A period after the grace period during which an expired domain can still be recovered by the original registrant, but at a significantly higher cost (often $100-$200+). The redemption period typically lasts 30 days before the domain is released for public registration.
Registrant: The individual or organization that registers and holds the rights to a domain name. The registrant is listed as the owner in the domain's WHOIS record (unless privacy protection is enabled) and is responsible for maintaining the registration.
Registrar: An organization accredited by ICANN or a ccTLD registry to sell domain name registrations to the public. Popular registrars include GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, and Google Domains. Registrars are the intermediary between you and the domain registry.
Registry: The organization responsible for maintaining the authoritative database of all domain names registered under a specific TLD. For example, Verisign is the registry for .com and .net domains, while the Public Interest Registry manages .org.
Renewal: The process of extending a domain name registration for an additional period (typically 1-10 years) before it expires. Timely renewal is critical to maintaining ownership of your domain and avoiding the expiration process.

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SLD (Second-Level Domain): The portion of a domain name directly to the left of the top-level domain. In "domainbuyer.com," the SLD is "domainbuyer." This is the customizable part of the domain that typically represents your brand, business, or project name.
Subdomain: A prefix added to a domain name to create a separate section or address within the same domain, such as blog.example.com or shop.example.com. Subdomains are configured through DNS and do not require additional domain registration.

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TLD (Top-Level Domain): The last segment of a domain name, appearing after the final dot. TLDs include generic extensions (.com, .org, .net), country codes (.uk, .de, .jp), and newer options (.app, .io, .store). The TLD you choose can affect perceived credibility, geographic targeting, and availability.
Transfer Lock: A security setting that prevents a domain name from being transferred to another registrar without the owner's explicit authorization. Transfer locks (also called registrar locks) protect against unauthorized transfers and domain hijacking, and must be disabled before initiating a legitimate transfer.
UDRP (Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy): A process established by ICANN for resolving disputes over domain name registrations, particularly in cases of cybersquatting. UDRP proceedings are handled by approved dispute resolution providers and can result in the transfer or cancellation of a domain found to be registered in bad faith.

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WHOIS: A public database and query protocol that provides registration information about domain names, including the registrant's contact details, registration and expiration dates, and nameservers. WHOIS data can be masked by privacy protection services. Use our guide on how to look up who owns a domain.
Wildcard DNS: A DNS record that matches requests for non-existent subdomains by using an asterisk (*) as the subdomain. For example, a wildcard record for *.example.com would direct any subdomain (like anything.example.com) to a specified IP address, useful for catch-all configurations.

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