What is a Domain Name Registrar?
A domain name registrar refers to any business that deals in the registration of Internet domain names for profit. A domain name registrar usually has its own reservations and control of domain names and often acts as a registrant with the ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) in an effort to reserve them for profit. Most domain name registrars are ICANN accredited but not all.
ICANN Organization
ICANN is the entity that oversees the registry of top-level domain names. A domain name registrar normally acts as an intermediary between the customer (you) and the ICANN staff. Your domain name is registered in their registry, and you use their services to reserve your name. Once reserved, your name remains in their registry until you cancel your account or the lease expires.
Web Hosting Companies Role
Web hosting companies provide the names and addresses for the domain name servers. These companies work closely with ICANN to handle the DNS requests for each site. The customer does not need to know anything about how the names are handled by the web host companies. The web host company simply responds to the DNS request from the customer and registers your domain name on their web server. They also provide the customers with business email addresses.
Always Check the Policies
When buying a domain name from a registrar there are some things you should look for such as contact information, technical support, privacy policy and FAQs. It is important to read the whois and other domain name Registrant details to get a good idea of what you are purchasing. You should find out everything you can about them before you make your final decision. Not knowing this important information could cause you major problems later on. Always make sure that you find a registrar that offers you plenty of options when it comes to domain names, as you will want to be able to register your domain name with different names, resell them later, or transfer them to a new owner.
