Your journey to get online starts here.

Domain names are created to make IP addresses easy to remember. Every computer has an IP address assigned to it – much like a street address. But instead of having to memorize each IP address number, we assign domain names to these numbers so we can easily remember them. The domain name system, or DNS, takes domain names and translates them into their IP addresses so that computers can communicate with one another. We’ve covered everything you need to know in this extensive guide about what is a domain name and why they are important.

When you enter a domain name into your web browser, the browser simply uses that domain to locate its corresponding IP address and then shows you the website associated with it. If you own a business, GoDaddy can help you find a domain name that best suits your business so you can easily promote your website.

It’s easy to get a new domain. Here are the steps:

1. Decide on a domain name extension. The extension is the part at the end of the domain name — .net, .biz, .org or .com, for example.

2. Think about what you’d like on the other side of the dot. It could be your business name or your specialty.

3. Type the domain you want into the box at the top of this page. We’ll tell you if that particular domain is available and show other you may like better.

4. Pick a domain, add it to your cart and check out. You are now the proud owner of your very own domain. As long as it’s registered to you, no one else may use it.

How long your domain registration lasts can vary depending on the domain you purchase. Many domain name registrars will allow customers to register domains for 10 years at a time, but typically customers will register domains for one to three years.

If you want to extend your registration, it’s easy to renew your domain with GoDaddy. You can choose to manually renew or set up auto-renewal, so you ensure it stays registered to you.

You bet. While it’s really easy to register a domain, having a good domain strategy helps you register the best domain name possible. Here are some hints:

Make it easy to remember. This is why many businesses get domains with their business names in them. Some people even choose their business name only after they have a domain they like.

Don’t register one that’s trademarked, copyrighted, or being used by another company. This can lead to losing the domain and legal problems.

Shorter is usually better because they’re easier for customers to remember. It’s also easier to get matching usernames for Facebook, Twitter and any other social media accounts you have.

Got a local business? Include your neighborhood, city or country in your domain so local customers can quickly see where you are. Check the list of geographic domain extensions — .berlin .nyc — to see if there’s one for your area.

Avoid numbers or hyphens. Anyone who hears your web address won’t know if you’re using a numeral 5 or “five”. If your business name has a number in it, register both versions — with the number and with the number spelled out (Dashes are just asking for trouble and generally look unprofessional).

Get more than one. As traffic to your website increases, you may attract then attention of copycats who’ll snatch up similar domain names in hopes of drawing traffic away from you. Register similar or misspelled domains early so this won’t be an issue later.

You can also learn how to protect your domain name.