Learn the domain name lingo using DomainSystems’s domain glossary. Our domain specialists have compiled commonly confused domain terms and listed their definitions. From .com to zone file, DomainSystems gives you the key to deciphering domain technobabble.

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.COM – The domain that is designated for commercial businesses

.EDU – The domain that is designated to any four–year, degree–granting college and university

.MIL – The domain that is designated for United States military entities.

.NET – The domain that was originally designated for Network/Networking Service Providers.

.ORG – The domain that was originally used to represent miscellaneous groups such as non–profit groups that do not fit under any of the other domains. This domain can be registered by anyone.

.US – Two letter country code for United States.

Account Holder – A person or company that is responsible for a domain name. If you register your domain as an individual, you will be designated as the account holder. If you register under a company, the company will be designated as the account holder.

Account Number – When a domain name has been purchased, the registrant will be issued an account number. This number will provide you with access to change and modify your password and account.

Administrative Contact/Agent – This is someone who is authorized to correspond with our company on behalf of the domain name registrant. The administrative contact/agent should be able to answer non–Technical questions about the domain name's registration and the domain name registrant.

Authentication – This verifies a user's identity.

Authorization – This verifies that users who are requesting service are permitted.

Deactivation – When a domain name cannot be functional on the internet. The domain name does remain in our database of records.

Deletion – When a domain name record is deleted from the Domain Name System (DNS) and our database of records. When this occurs, the domain name that has gone through the deletion process is returned to the pool of available Domain Names for anyone to register.

Digital Signature – A piece of data that is attached to an electronic file that serves as the digital equivalent of a handwritten signature.

Domain – A division of the entire space which holds domain names that characterizes a level of hierarchy in the domain name space and is indicated by a domain name.

Domain Name – A name that is used on the internet as a way to identify its location of computers.

Domain Name Disputes – Disputes that occur when there is a challenge over the right to register a specific domain name. It often occurs when that domain name is similar to a registered brand or trademark.

Domain Name System (DNS) – Database of information that is used to translate domain names, into Internet Protocol (IP) numbers. The IP numbers what computers look for to find each other on the Internet.

Encrypted Password – A password that has been "scrambled" so that someone who is not intended to use that specific program/ or system will be denied.

Encryption – A very high security way to protect information that is sent over the Internet by scrambling the data so that only the person who is designated can read the information.

Fully Qualified Host Name – The name of the computer hosting your domain name.

Host (Name Server) – Computers that establish domain names to Internet Protocol (IP) numbers when referring to name servers.

Internet Protocol (IP) Numbers (IP addresses) – A unique number that distinguishes hosts and networks. IP addresses represent a piece of a universal standard that is used to identify systems connected to the Internet.

Internet Service Provider (ISP) – Typically a small or large business that supplies access to the internet, although an individual person may be equipped to do so. It is common for ISPs to provide web hosting, domain registrations and other services that are related.

Name Server – A computer system that determines domain names to Internet Protocol (IP) numbers. This is also commonly known as a host.

Name Service – A service that supplies domain name–to–Internet Protocol (IP) number resolution by maintaining and making available the hardware, software, and information that is needed.

PGP Public Key Server – A database of information that can be queried to find someone's public key.

Private Key Encryption – An encryption system in which both the sender and recipient of a message share a single, common key that is used to both encrypt and decrypt the message.

Public Key Encryption – An encryption method that uses the concept of a key–ring. The key–ring uses a public and private key. The public and private keys are intended to work together.

Registrant – The person or group that registers a specific domain name that has the right to use that specific domain name for a time that is agreed upon. The registrant is required to ensure that all fees are paid and all requirements are met.

Registration – The process in which a person or groups acquires a domain name and pays a specified fee.

Registry – A unit that is responsible for distributing internet addresses such as Internet Protocol (IP) numbers and domain names. The registry holds a record of each of the addresses.

Root – The top of the Domain Name System (DNS) hierarchy. Often referred to as the "dot."

Root server – A system that locates name servers that contain authoritative data for the top–level domains.

Second Level Domain – In the Domain Name System (DNS), the next lower level of the hierarchy underneath the top level domains.

Maintenance contract – A legally binding contract between our company and the individual or group requesting registration for a domain name.

Top–level Domain – In the Domain Name System (DNS), the highest level of the hierarchy after the root. For example, the com in .com or org in .org.

Trademark – A word, phrase, graphic image, or other symbol used to represent a business, commercial, or other group.

VeriSign Server Digital ID – These are used to give verification to users of a website's genuine identity.

Zone – A division of the entire domain name space that is characterized by the data stored on a particular name server.

Zone File – A file that holds the data describing a division of the entire domain name space.

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