The internet is an important part of nearly every person’s life. It allows us to interact with others, find businesses and services, and find the information we need on a daily basis. So, how does the internet allow us to do all of this, from a single computer? The answer lies in domain name registrars, and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).

How It Works
When you use the internet to reach others, or find a business, you have to use a web address, or a number. All of these numbers and addresses are unique, and allow for the interaction found on the internet. If these addresses are not created properly, the user is not able to find the correct person or business, which would make the internet nearly unusable for most people. ICANN helps develop protocols that allow domain name registrars to work together to create an internet system that allows the unique web addresses or identifiers to work together to create a worldwide internet that can be used by nearly anyone.

While most internet users use web addresses to locate the person or business they are looking for, it is actually the DNS number that is the most important information about a website.

Computers use the DNS number of a website to find it, rather than simply the web address. The DNS numbers are much like a street address for a website. The DNS number provides the computer with the exact location of the website, which is known as the IP address. When the website address is entered into the computer, a quick cross referencing search is completed that locates the DNS number associated with the address that you entered. While this may seem like an added step that could be avoided by simply using the IP address when trying to locate a person or business, it is much easier to remember web addresses than it is a long series of numbers.

What is a Domain Name?
Domain names are used to tell the computer what address it is looking for. Domain names are essentially a series of descriptors that provide the information needed to find a business or person. Domain names generally start with www, which designates the machine name. This is followed by the mid level domain name, and ends with the .com, .org, or other identifier that represents the top level of the domain where the address is located. Domain names must be unique, otherwise it will be impossible for people to find your organization. In order to ensure that these processes work properly, domain name registrars are used in conjunction with ICANN to ensure that all applicable rules and regulations are followed for proper internet protocol.

Domain Name Registrars
Domain name registrars are services that allow you to create your own unique domain website for you or your organization. A domain name registrar allows you to register your unique web address, which ensures that no other person or business can use the same web address as you. This allows users to find your exact website simply by entering the correct address, instead of having to remember a series of numbers (the IP address).
Domain name registrars often require a fee for registering your unique address, but this ensures that your web address is unique to you or your business, and makes sure that your customers can find your actual site rather than someone else’s.

There are currently many different domain name registrars available to choose from, but legitimate registrars are those that hold an accreditation from ICANN.

This accreditation is usually given to registrars who are allowed to provide the following domain name suffixes:

.aero – aviation related websites
.biz – business websites
.com – the most common suffix
.coop – used only by cooperatives
.gov – reserved for government use only
.info – sites that provide information
.museum – museum and museum related people
.name – used for individual people only
.net – generally used for Microsoft framework
.org – used only by non-profit organizations
.pro – only available for professionals who are licensed

Domain name registrars allow you to register your domain name using these suffixes, providing that no other person or business currently owns that domain name. If the name you wish to use is already taken, you will need to come up with your own unique name in order to register it so that no one else can choose it in the future.

What is ICANN?
ICANN, or the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, is a non-profit organization that is the authority over domain names. This organization determines and enforces the policies, rules, and regulations that are required by domain name registration to ensure that the internet remains usable for all who use it. ICANN oversees the creation of domain name rules to ensure that policies and procedures are followed properly, which maintains the usability of the internet.

ICANN uses regulation to ensure that the structure of the internet remains such that it continues to run as smoothly as possible. This includes overseeing the domain name registrars to ensure that they are using the correct domain names, and following the required regulations to keep the internet usable. These responsibilities also include regulating the use of the top level domain hierarchies such as the .net, .com, and .org suffixes.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers works with the IANA, or Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, which is responsible for providing and maintaining the numbering systems used for developing IP addresses and other internet protocols. Whereas ICANN regulates the use and creation of domain name systems, IANA assists by providing the numbering systems needed for developing domain name locations.

The regulation and use of domain names allows internet users to locate the exact people or businesses they are looking for. Without the assistance of ICANN and IANA, domain name registrars would be essentially useless, as it would be impossible to locate the correct addresses.