What is an Internet Domain Name?

Computers connect to and communicate with one another through a shared network or community. This shared network is comprised of host computers and client computers. Host computers allow client computers to perform tasks like sending email and browsing websites. There are numerous host computers on a network that contain all sorts of information and programs. Each host has its own distinctive Internet domain name which is the host computer’s online identity.

For example, the Microsoft Company owns a host computer that contains its website, email program, and much more. The Internet domain name is included in the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) www.msn.com. When broken down into parts, the URL basically means that a web browser uses the World Wide Web (www) to access the Microsoft host computer (msn) which is operated by a commercial entity (.com).

It is important for each organization to give its host computer a unique Internet domain name, because this is what separates this organization’s database from others. The Internet is so vast and expansive that there needs to be a navigation system for it. Without a distinctive identifying name, other computers would have no way to locate and access the organization’s host computer.

The concept of a home address demonstrates the importance of Internet domain names. To locate a specific home in a community in which all homes look the same, a person would need identifying characteristics such as street names and numerical addresses. Once the person enters the community, they must locate the street. After turning onto the correct street, they would identify the specific home by its numerical address.

The Internet works in a very similar way. For example, the Internal Revenue Service is a government organization with its own Internet domain name. In the community of the World Wide Web, the IRS is located on a particular “street”. While Microsoft is located on Commercial Street, the IRS is located on Government Street. The address of the Internal Revenue Service is the same as its abbreviation, IRS. Therefore, to locate the Internal Revenue Service on a street full of government entities, a person would find it at its Internet domain name (or address), irs.gov. The complete URL is www.irs.gov.

This explains why the Internet is often referred to as the information super-highway. Host computers connect with other computers to send and receive text, multimedia, and other data to one another. The data travels through various communities and streets until it finds the correct address or Internet domain name. A unique, yet simple Internet domain name assures that the host computer stands out on the street and is easy to find.