Domain registrars allow businesses and individuals to reserve and register internet domain names. These services are used by organizations that wish to create and maintain a website or reserve a domain name for future business opportunities.
Domain registrars handle the registration process and ensure that domains are reserved for a specific duration, typically one or two years, with the option for renewal. In addition to domain registration, these providers often offer domain search tools that allow users to check the availability of desired domain names.
Domain registrars also frequently offer additional services, like domain transfers that allow users to transfer ownership of a domain name between registrars.
Some also provide domain parking, where a reserved domain hosts a simple web page or advertisement until a better website is developed.
Domain registrars must be accredited by organizations such as the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) or other appropriate domain registry administrative bodies to operate legally and manage top-level domains (TLDs) and second-level domains (SLDs).
Some domain registrars also offer managed DNS services, and DNS security solution.
While domain registrars focus on domain name reservations, managed DNS providers handle DNS records, directing traffic to the correct servers and simplifying setup for domain owners. DNS security solutions defend against threats like DNS spoofing and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
Many registrars integrate these solutions to safeguard domains and ensure reliable traffic routing. Together, domain registrars, managed DNS providers, and DNS security solutions create a unified system for seamless domain registration, management, and protection.
To qualify for inclusion in the Domain Registrars category, a services provider must:
Offer a searchable domain registry to check domain name availability
Process domain name registration and renewal for customers
Provide domain transfers both in and out, allowing users to move domains between registrars
Maintain accreditation from the appropriate domain registry authorities
Facilitate additional services like secure sockets layer (SSL) certification for website security
