Technical Terms and jargon got you confused? Below are some commonly used terms and their definitions in the domain name registration industry.

1. Contact Record/Contact ID
2. DNS
3. Domain name
4. Domain Parking
5. Hosting
6. InterNIC
7. IP address
8. IP number
9. ISP
10. Modify
11. Name Servers
12. Name Service (Primary or Secondary)
13. Primary Server
14. Registrant
15. Registrar
16. Registry
17. Registry Fees
18. Renewal
19. Secondary Server
20. Second Level Domain
21. Top Level Domain (TLD)
22. Transfer (Domain Name transfer)
23. Web Host
24. Whois
25. Zone file
    
    1. Contact Record/Contact ID
    
    Contact Records or Contact IDs (sometimes called Agents) are individuals or groups who represent a registrant on matters related to the registrant's domain name(s). There are three types of Contacts: Administrative, Technical, and Billing. The entity listed as the Administrative, Technical, or Billing Contact is an individual or 'role' that is contacted in matters relating to the domain name. They also have the ability to Modify information pertaining to a domain name. A Contact may be a single person, a company, or organization.
    
    2. DNS
    
    DNS stands for Domain Name System. This System translates a domain name such as Domain Bank.com into the Internet Protocol (IP) numbers to find the correct web site - in this case the site for Domain Bank. The network of computers that constitute the Internet map domain names to their corresponding IP numbers. The data is then made available to all computers and users on the Internet.
    
    3. Domain name
    
    A domain name is the core of your company's online identity. It is the address your customers will use to find information about your products and services on the web. Your domain name is yours entirely because once registered, no other party may use that identity online in that Top Level Domain.
    
    Domain Names always have 2 or more parts, separated by dots. The part on the left is the most specific, and the part on the right is the most general. A domain name can simply be thought of as your Internet address. The Internet uses Internet Protocol (IP) numbers to locate other computers. Internet users would typically have a hard time remembering these long strings of numbers to find sites. Domain names were developed to allow users to name these (IP) addresses with easy to remember names or phrases.
    
    4. Domain Parking
    
    Registrars require the use of name servers or hosts for every domain registered. In other words, every domain name has to be linked to a name server for it to be valid. Some people do not have they own name servers, therefore our Registrar offers 'domain parking' (name parking) on its servers. It is a convenient way to hold or 'park' domain name(s) for an extended amount of time.
    
    5. Hosting
    
    A Web Hosting company provides you space on their web server which allows you anyone on the Internet to view your web site. Web Hosts charge on a monthly basis and provide differing levels of service. Our Partner ehostdomains offers Basic Hosting as well as very robust Hosting packages. They also provide e-mail service for your domain names as part of the Web Hosting package. Choose the package that fits your Hosting needs.
    If you choose to use ehostDomains as the host then you will either enter their DNS during the Domain Name Registration process or Log In after you have registered a domain name. After loggin in you will want to use the domain manager, then click on the change DNS and choose the domain name you wish to update.
    Our Web Hosts DNS:
    Primary Nameserver: NS.valueweb.net
    IP # 216.219.253.211
    Secondary Nameserver: NS2.valueweb.net
    IP # 216.219.254.10
    
    6. InterNIC
    
    InterNIC is a U.S. government agency that has been effectively replaced by ICANN. These entities oversee the assignment of domain names for .COM, .NET and .ORG.
    
    7. IP address
    
    The numeric identification number that refers to a specific machine on the Internet.
    
    8. IP number
    
    IP stands for Internet protocol. A unique number consisting of 4 parts separated by dots. Every machine that is on the Internet has a unique number, which correlates to its domain name.
    
    9. ISP
    
    ISP stands for Internet Service Provider. An ISP provides access to the Internet for others via some connectivity service(s). Examples of ISPs include Earthlink, Mindspring, and WorldNet to name a few.
    
    10. Modify
    
    Modify is a function where contact information or DNS information can be updated to reflect new changes pertaining to a domain name. Administrative and Technical Contacts have the ability to modify domain name information.
    
    11. Name Servers
    
    A computer that performs the mapping of domain names to IP addresses. Sometimes referred to as a host server.
    
    12. Name Service (Primary or Secondary)
    
    The domain name-to-Internet Protocol (IP) number resolution is known as Name Service. Many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) operate name servers and provide their customers with name service when they register a domain name. Our Registrar offers both primary and secondary name service for all domain names registered through us.
    
    13. Primary Server
    
    On our Registrars Agreement, the section where the registrant indicates the host name and Internet Protocol (IP) number of the name server that will contain authoritative information for the domain name and will be used to resolve that domain name to its corresponding IP number(s). The designation of "primary" means that this name server will be used first and will be relied upon before any of the other name servers that may be listed on the Domain Name Registration Agreement. The primary server section of the Agreement is a required section and the domain name registration will not be processed unless this section of the Domain Name Registration Agreement is completed properly.
    
    14. Registrant
    
    The entity, organization, or individual who effectively owns/leases a particular domain name is also known as the registrant.
    
    15. Registrar
    
    Any entity, organization, or individual that acts on behalf of a registrant regarding domain name requests or modifies is known as a registrar. Some registries require domain name requests go through a registrar. For .COM, .NET, and .ORG names.
    
    16. Registry
    
    The organization responsible for the actual administration and maintenance to a top-level domain is known as the registry. The registry is where registrants or registrars go for new or modify domain name requests. This is a US government contracted database.
    
    17. Registry Fees
    
    Most TLD registries require initial registration fees as well as annual or bi-annual renewal fees. Prices vary from cost-free to thousands of dollars per domain depending on the TLD chosen. The most commonly registered names are in the .COM, .NET, and .ORG domain and cost an initial fee of $70.00 USD, which covers the first two years. Renewal fees are $35.00 annually after the first two years. This pricing structure is likely to change in the year 2000.  One through ten year registrations will become available with different pricing tiers.
    
    18. Renewal
    
    Registration for most domain names needs to be renewed based on some scheduled yearly interval. This gives the registrant (you) and the registry (the administrator of the Top Level Domain) an opportunity to update contact information and name registration. This usually includes payment of the registration fee(s).
    
    19. Secondary Server
    
    On the Registrars Domain Name Registration Agreement, the section where the registrant indicates the hostname and Internet Protocol (IP) number of a name server that will contain authoritative data for the domain name being registered and will resolve that domain name to its corresponding IP number(s). The designation of "secondary" indicates that the name server will be used in addition to and as a backup for the primary name server that is listed on the Domain Name Registration Agreement.
    
    20. Second Level Domain
    
    In the Domain Name System (DNS), the next highest level of the hierarchy underneath the Top Level Domains. In the example domain name - YourCompany.net - the ?YourCompany? part is the second level domain. Second level domain names are what you register in a Top Level Domain registry.
    
    21. Top Level Domain (TLD)
    
    In the Domain Name System (DNS), the highest level of the hierarchy above second level domains. In the example YourCompany.net - the ?YourCompany? part is the second level domain while the ?.net? is the Top Level Domain. Second level domain names are what you register by or on behalf of registrants (or name holders) in a Top Level Domain registry.
    
    There are two types of Top Level Domains. The most common type is ?generic Top Level Domains?? or gTLDs, such as .COM, .NET, .ORG.  New gTLDs such as .NOM, .INFO, or .WEB may be introduced sometime in the future. The other type of TLD is the ccTLD (country code Top Level Domains) which are assigned to all countries and their dependencies. Every TLD registry - generic or country code - has its own prices, policies, and procedures that registrants (name holders) in that registry are subject to. It is important to know and be prepared to accept these before registering name(s) in a particular registry.
    
    22. Transfer (Domain Name transfer)
    
    Domain names can be sold to another individual or organization or the name of a company might change. Most Registrars require a process by which permission from the old owner to hand over control to the new owner is authorized. The procedure for change of ownership is known a Transfer. Policies and procedures on domain name transfer can vary.  Contact whichever Registrar you originally used to request a transfer.
    
    23. Web Host
    
    The server (computer) where your web site's html files, graphics, etc. reside is known as the web host. Please visit our partner at ehostDomains
    
    24. Whois
    
    Whois is a term referring to a domain name search feature for a database - typically for Top-Level Domain name Registrars. Information such as name availability can be found through a query or search using a whois protocol (standard). Most Top-Level Domain Registrars maintain their own whois database containing domain name contact information.
    
    25. Zone file
    
    The group of files that reside on the domain host or name server. The zone file designates a domain, its sub-domains, and mail server.