Knowledgebase

What is a Domain Name? (Firstserv Guide)

A domain name is simply a name—a unique identifier used to locate services on the internet. On its own, it does not contain a website or email; it acts as a reference point that directs users to the correct location online.

A Simple Analogy

Think of a domain name like a company name or trademark:

• The name is registered to an owner
• You can look it up to find details about that owner
• The name itself isn’t the business—it only identifies it

👉 Similarly, a domain name identifies where services like your website and email are located.

How Domain Names Work

Computers don’t use names—they use IP addresses (numbers).

For example:

www.yourdomain.com → 123.123.123.123

The system that links names to numbers is called DNS (Domain Name System).

What Happens When Someone Visits Your Website

1. A user types your domain (e.g. yourdomain.com) into their browser
2. DNS looks up the correct IP address
3. The browser connects to the server at that IP
4. Your website is displayed

✅ DNS makes the internet easier to use by replacing complex numbers with simple names

Domain Names vs Hosting

A domain name and hosting are not the same thing.

• Domain name → The address (e.g. yourdomain.com)
• Hosting → Where your website and emails are stored

👉 Owning a domain does not automatically include:

• A website
• Email services
• Any content

These must be set up separately using hosting and DNS configuration.

Transferring a Domain

When you transfer a domain:

• ✅ Ownership or registrar changes
• ❌ Your website and email do not automatically move

👉 You must also:

• Move your website files
• Update DNS settings to point to the correct servers

Who Manages Domains?

Domain names are managed globally by official organisations.

Examples

• .uk domains → Managed by Nominet
• Other domains → Managed by different international authorities

Role of Firstserv

Firstserv acts as a domain registrar, meaning:

• We register domain names on your behalf
• We manage renewals and settings
• We provide DNS tools (e.g. BusyRacks) to control how your domain works

Why DNS is Important

Every service on the internet relies on DNS:

• Websites
• Email servers
• Applications

Without DNS:

• You would need to remember numerical IP addresses
• The internet would be much harder to use

Summary

• A domain name is a label, not a website or service
• DNS connects domain names to server IP addresses
• Websites and email are separate services linked via DNS
• Transferring a domain does not move your hosting automatically
• Firstserv helps manage your domains and DNS configuration

Need Help?

If you’re unsure how your domain connects to your website or email, the Firstserv support team is always happy to help explain and configure everything for you.