What is a domain name?
A domain name is the address people type to reach one site, such as webji.in. A registry runs the ending, a registrar or reseller sells the name, and DNS points it at your hosting. You register for a fixed term in INR and renew it, or the name can be lost.
The parts of a web address, who actually runs each piece, and what checking, registering and renewing a name in India involves.
knowledge
- Read time
- 3 min
- Sections
- 6
- Updated
- 14 Nov 2026
- Written by
- WebJi® team
Last editorial update: 15 November 2026.
What is a domain name?
A domain name is the human-readable address people type to reach one site — webji.in — which DNS translates into the server address that actually answers. It is not the hosting, it is not the pages, and it is not the full URL with its folders and file name. You register it for a fixed term in INR, and you renew that term or the registry can release the name to someone else.
The full journey — what happens between pressing Enter and a page appearing — is walked through in how websites work; the short version is that the name is the label, DNS is the lookup, and hosting is the machine that replies.
What are the parts of a domain name?
Read a domain from the right: the TLD is the ending, the second-level label is the word you choose, and anything further left is a subdomain you create yourself. Only the label-plus-TLD pair is registered; subdomains are free configuration under it.
| Part | Example | Role |
|---|---|---|
| TLD | .in or .com | The ending — country-code or generic; what a TLD is separates the kinds. |
| Second-level label | webji in webji.in | The word you register under that ending. |
| Subdomain | shop.webji.in | A label on the left; what a subdomain is explains it is not a second registration. |
| Full hostname | www.webji.in | www is itself a subdomain, not a requirement of every site. |
The difference between the name and the full page address — scheme, path, file — is drawn in URL versus domain name.
Who runs a domain: registry, registrar and reseller?
Three parties divide the work: the registry operates the TLD's central zone, the registrar sells registrations into that zone, and the reseller sells through a registrar's connection — WebJi® sells domains as a reseller, not as an accredited registry or registrar. The fourth party is you, the registrant, named in the record with contact details that must be true.
| Party | What it does | What it does not do |
|---|---|---|
| Registry (e.g. the operator of .in or .com) | Runs the TLD zone, sets policy, publishes the name to the world's DNS | Sell to the public directly |
| Registrar | Writes registrations into the registry, handles renewals and transfers | Host your website |
| Reseller (WebJi®) | Sells registrations and renewals through a registrar's system, with local INR billing and support | Claim to be the registry or an accreditation body |
| Registrant (you) | Owns the registration for its paid term; keeps contact details current | Own the TLD itself, or the name after the term lapses |
This split also explains moving house: hosting can change while the registration stays put, because the name and the server are different contracts — domain versus hosting covers that line in detail, and buying starts on the domain registration page.
How does a domain point to a website?
A domain reaches a website because the DNS records at your name servers publish where each name should go: an A record holds an IPv4 address, a CNAME points one name at another. The name servers themselves are set at the registrar side; the records on them come from your host's welcome mail or panel.
- Name servers: where the domain's DNS lives — change these at the seller, and the rest follows.
- A record: the host's IPv4 address for your domain.
- CNAME: an alias, commonly pointing www at the root name.
The system as a whole is explained in what DNS is, and every record type on one page in DNS records explained. Change the record your host tells you to change, then give resolvers the TTL window to pick it up.
How much does a domain cost in India, and what happens at renewal?
You pay in INR for a fixed term — often a year — and the renewal rate can differ from the first-year price; both rates depend on the ending, and a premium word costs more than a standard name. Those figures stay on the domain price list rather than being copied here, because a price quoted twice goes stale twice. GST is added on the invoice at 18%.
| Question | What to expect |
|---|---|
| What do you pay for? | A fixed term in years, billed in INR. |
| Is renewal the same as year one? | Not always — read the renewal column on the price list before buying. |
| Why do two names differ in price? | Different endings, and premium words priced higher than standard labels. |
| What if you do not renew? | The name can expire and later be registered by someone else. |
Renewal notices go to the contact mailbox on the registration, which is one reason the next section insists on a mailbox you actually read.
How do you check and register a name?
Search the exact spelling first, then register it with true contact details and a mailbox you read — renewal notices, transfer confirmations and expiry warnings all land there. Turn renewal on once the site matters, and point DNS at the host when the site is ready.
- Search the exact spelling — including the ending you want — with the domain availability check.
- Register with true details — the registrant record is what proves the name is yours.
- Use a mailbox you read — renewal notices go there, and a missed notice is how names are lost.
- Pay in INR — GST is added on the invoice; the price list carries current figures.
- Turn renewal on — then set name servers or records when the site is ready.
For .in and the Indian second-level endings, registration additionally involves e-KYC or supporting ID, and foreign applicants a signed India-purpose declaration — eligibility being open does not mean verification is skipped. Public listing of your details, and how to limit it, is covered in what Whois is.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns a domain name — me or the company I bought it from?
You do, as the registrant, for as long as the term is paid. The seller — registrar or reseller like WebJi® — administers the registration; the registry runs the ending. Keep the registrant contact details true and reachable, because that record is what proves ownership at renewal and transfer time.
Can I move my domain to another registrar later?
Yes — a domain transfer moves the registration between registrars, usually with a year added to the term. Expect an authorisation code and a confirmation mail at the registrant address. Newly registered gTLD names typically cannot transfer during the first 60 days under ICANN policy.
What is a premium domain name?
A label the registry prices above the standard rate — usually short, a dictionary word, or a sought-after keyword. The higher price is set at the registry level, not by the seller, and the renewal is frequently premium too. Read the renewal column before buying one.
Why did my renewal cost more than the first year?
First-year prices are often lower than the renewal rate for the same ending. The two columns are published side by side on the domain price list; checking the renewal figure before the first purchase is the honest way to budget a name.
Do I lose the name if I forget to renew?
Not instantly — a lapsed name usually passes through a short grace period during which renewal is still possible, and after that it can be released and registered by someone else. Missing the renewal mail is the common cause, so keep the registrant mailbox current and renewal on for names that matter.
Last editorial update: 15 November 2026. Prices follow the dated sources on this page; checkout confirms current charges.
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