Domain name
A hierarchical DNS name such as example.com.
example.com
Web addresses
Domain name vs URL
A domain name identifies a place in the DNS hierarchy. A URL is a complete resource address that can include a scheme, host, port, path, query and fragment.
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The core concept
The domain is one component of a URL
The host sits between the scheme and the path. It may contain a registered domain plus a subdomain.
https://Scheme
›
shop.example.comHost
›
/productsPath
›
?sort=newQuery
›
#detailsFragment
Only the host is resolved through DNS. The web server receives the path and query; the fragment is normally handled by the client.
The essentials
Host
The URL component naming the network destination.
shop.example.com
Origin
The scheme, host and port used for browser security boundaries.
https://example.com:443
URL
The complete parsed address for a resource.
https://example.com/about
How a browser uses a URL
Different URL components guide different stages of the request.
Parse the scheme and host
The browser determines the protocol and destination name.
Resolve the host
DNS is used when the host is a domain name rather than a literal IP address.
Connect and request
The browser connects, establishes HTTPS where applicable and sends the path and query.
Apply the fragment
After the resource loads, the fragment can identify a section or client-side state.
Domain and URL compared
The distinction matters when configuring DNS, redirects, analytics and canonical links.
| Question | Domain name | URL |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | A name in DNS | A complete resource address |
| What do you register? | The registrable domain | Nothing; URLs are created under your services |
| Can it include a path? | No | Yes |
| Can it include query parameters? | No | Yes |
| Example | example.com | https://example.com/search?q=name |
Use the right part in the right place
- Use a domain when discussing registration, DNS or brand naming.
- Use a full URL when linking to a specific page or resource.
- Include https:// when a field explicitly requests a URL.
- Do not place tracking parameters in canonical URLs.
- Redirect alternate hosts and schemes to one preferred origin.
- Encode spaces and reserved characters correctly in URLs.
Common questions
Is https:// part of the domain name?
No. It is the URL scheme. It tells the client to use HTTPS when accessing the host.
Is www a URL or domain?
www is a label commonly used in a host such as www.example.com. The full string becomes part of a URL when combined with a scheme and optional path.
Can two URLs use the same domain?
Yes. A site can create effectively unlimited paths, queries and fragments under the same host.
Does changing a page URL affect the domain registration?
No. Paths are controlled by the website or application. Changing them does not change who holds the domain, though redirects may be needed.
Keep learning
The next concepts to understand
Next step
Start with the name inside the URL
Check whether the domain at the centre of your planned web address is available.