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).
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