Overview
This article provides answers to commonly asked Domain Registration questions.
General
What is a domain name?
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A domain name is the address, or URL, of your website. For example, dreamhost.com is a domain name. Every domain name is unique and assigned to the person who registers it on a first-come-first-served basis.
Why would I want a domain?
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There are many good reasons to register your own unique domain name, including:
- Permanent address for your site and email (as long as you keep the domain registered and have an active web hosting and email service linked to the domain).
- A unique domain name looks professional and is easier for people to remember.
- Once your domain name is purchased, you own it until you choose to let it expire.
Do I need to register a domain name?
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Only if you want to own a unique domain name.
DreamHost also offers the use of a free dreamhosters.com subdomain. This is available to all customers and allows you to host a website such as mysite.dreamhosters.com without purchasing a registration.
Once I register my domain name, can I change it later?
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Unfortunately, this is not possible. Once you have registered and reserved the domain name, you own it through its expiration date. Make sure that the spelling of your domain name is exact when you register it (i.e., that there are no typos or misspellings).
If you registered a domain that was not spelled correctly, the only option is to also register the new, correctly spelled domain name. Then, let the old one expire after the period you purchased it for has passed.
Should I register my domain with "www" in front?
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No. The "www" portion is not part of the name. Just register example.com without the "www."
However, when setting up hosting for the domain, you can then add "www" to the URL.
Can DreamHost help me purchase a domain that is currently registered to someone else, or help me contact them?
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No. DreamHost cannot assist with the sale of currently registered domains or assist you in contacting a registered domain owner.
Hosting
What is the difference between domain registration and web hosting?
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Here is a comparison between domain registration and web hosting:
- Domain Registration — This is the ownership and rights to the name of your site. No one else has access or can use the domain name after you purchase it.
- Web Hosting — This adds your domain name to a web server, allowing it to be accessed online. DreamHost offers several types of hosting plans for you to choose from depending on your website's needs.
Does registering a domain mean I can publish my site right away?
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No. You must purchase a hosting plan, add the domain to the hosting plan, and the upload your website content to the web server for the site to appear online.
Types of domains
What types of domains are available to register (.com, .net, .org, or .info)?
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See this page for a list of available registrations you can purchase.
Can I register an International domain name?
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Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) are domain names that contain characters other than unaccented Roman letters (A-Z), digits (0-9), and the hyphen.
It is currently not possible to register an Internationalized domain name at DreamHost. However, you can still host it at DreamHost after purchasing it from another company that supports IDNs. See this article for further details.
Can I register a .gov domain?
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Government domains are currently not available to register at DreamHost; however, you can always register them at a different registrar and host them in your DreamHost account.
Time frames
How long can I register a new domain for?
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Depending on the domain extension, you can register domains for 1–3 years in advance at DreamHost.
How long can I renew my domain for?
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You can renew a domain for up to 2 years at DreamHost, with payment required upon renewal. You can also renew automatically in the panel.