A domain name is an easy-to-remember text string which acts as an alias for a more complex number referred to as an IP address. Instead of having to remember the IP address 216.32.74.50 in order to go to yahoo.com, the domain name system (DNS) translates the easy-to-remember text string yahoo.com into the complex IP address, allowing for easier Internet use. When you type in a Uniform Resource Locator URL (e.g. http://www.yahoo.com) into the address bar of your browser, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) looks for the IP address that is associated with this address. Once your ISP finds the IP address required, it communicates it to your browser which in turn takes you to the Web page located at that IP address.

There are two types of domain name extensions referred to as Top-Level Domain names (TLDs): generic top-level domain names (gTLDs) (e.g. .com, .org and .net) and country top-level domain names (cTLDs) (e.g. .us, .ca). The domain names that we register as individuals or companies using Network Solutions are referred to as SLDs (Second-Level Domain names).