FireStorm has been offering its customers a wide range of services and products on the Internet for over twenty years. These include, above all, the various hosting offers: from web hosting and Windows hosting to mail hosting, reseller hosting and cloud storage. We also offer root servers and server housing as well as a website builder that is also suitable for web stores. In addition to a few other services, we at FireStorm also offer domains for our customers. Almost everyone will have heard the term “domains” in the context of the Internet. But not everyone knows exactly what a domain is – let alone what components a domain has. That’s why we want to explain exactly that in this short article. – We hope you enjoy reading this article!

Most internet users have heard of a domain, but not everyone knows exactly what a domain is and what parts a domain consists of, which is why we explain exactly that in this article.

What is a domain? – The explanation in short form

Simply put, a domain is a digital address for websites – very similar to your address in the physical world. The domain is therefore used to access websites and other resources on the Internet. Each domain has several components. There are often two main parts: the actual domain name (also known as the second-level domain) and the domain extension (also known as the top-level domain). We will introduce you to these and the other components of a domain with examples.

This is because a domain is essentially also something like a hierarchy of different levels. These identify the exact location of a website on the Internet. The structure consists of several parts, each of which has a specific meaning:

What is the root domain?

Root domains are the starting point of the hierarchy and are located directly before the top-level domains. A root domain is often empty and therefore does not consist of a visible name. Accordingly, the root domain is not explicitly displayed in a URL in most cases. However, there are exceptions where the root domain is not empty, but contains a dot (“.”) or even a placeholder such as “localhost”. An example of this is the DNS system (Domain Name System), where the dot (“.”) represents the absolute root domain. In practice, however, the root domain is rarely used in normal web addresses.

What is the top-level domain (TLD)?

The top-level domain is the ending of a domain, which is why it is often simply called a domain extension. The top-level domain provides important information about the context, type or destination of the website. This is because top-level domains can be general (such as “.com”) or refer to specific areas (such as “.edu” for educational institutions). Examples of top-level domains are “.com”, “.net”, “.org” and country-specific endings such as “.ch”, “.at” or “.de”.

What is the second-level domain (SLD)?

Second-level domains are located before the top-level domains and form the main name of the website. A second-level domain is often customized and helps with identification and memorability. Examples of second-level domains are “example.ch”, “wikipedia.org” or “google.com”, whereby the second-level domain is always only the part before the domain extension or the top-level domain.

What is the third-level domain or what is the subdomain?

Third-level domains are often also referred to as subdomains. They are an extension of the hierarchy and are located below the second-level domain. They can represent further specific or separate areas of the website and are often used to fine-tune the structure. However, most websites use “www” as the standard third-level domain or subdomain. Examples of subdomains are therefore “blog.example.ch” or “store.example.ch” as well as “www.beispiel.ch”, but also “example.co.uk”, where “blog”, “store”, “www” and “example” are subdomains.

A domain consists of a root domain, a top-level domain, a second-level domain and a third-level domain or subdomain.

The meaning of domain names and extensions

An optimal domain name reflects the image of your website. Therefore, the domain name should ideally be short and memorable. You should also avoid special characters and copyright-protected terms. The domain extension also influences the perception of your website. For example, country-specific domain endings are more relevant for regional target groups.

Generally speaking, a domain and its name alone are extremely important, as they secure you an exclusive place on the Internet. It gives you a professional web and email presence for your projects and businesses. With this understanding, you are now ready for your own online presence. – Take advantage of the benefits of an individual domain with FireStorm!

Hopefully you now know a little more about the term “domain” and can register your desired domain directly with FireStorm if you wish.

At FireStorm you can find .CH domains for only 5.- CHF in the first year!

Simply use the desired domain search field on FireStorm.ch to check whether your desired domain is still available. If it is, you can register your new domain directly and if it is not, we will show you further domain suggestions: Register your desired domain now