CodeCharge StudioWhen you purchase a hosting plan, you will be asked to transfer or obtain a domain name for your web site. The domain name is a string of characters and numbers, usually a set of words that is easier to remember than the IP address that is assigned to your computer.
The domain names are stored in a Domain Name Server (DNS), which is part of a distributed database system that is queried whenever someone requests a URL or machine name. The DNS facilitates the location of a host where, when you type a URL in your browser, the browser is able to lookup the IP address then send an HTTP request to the correct web server.
To obtain a domain name, you need to find one that is available and purchase the rights to use it on an annual basis. You can check the availability of the name you want at http://www.register.com and if your domain is available, you can buy it there as well. If you want to buy multiple domain names to reserve for future use, you can use a less expensive, bulk alternative, such as http://www.namebargain.com.