What exactly is a Domain name?
Just like a telephone number, a domain name is a unique identifier that points to a certain site on the World Wide Web. Each computer on the internet has a unique numeric Internet Protocol (IP) address such as '131.215.3.29'. These numbers are not user-friendly, giving no indication as to what the address contains.
A domain name is a mnemonic that is easier to remember. It can also indicate what the website contains. It is far easier to remember old-books.co.za than '121.202.7.23', and if you collect old books you have a fair idea that this site will be of interest to you.
Typically, domain names operate like telephone dialling codes in reverse. The first section of the name points to a specific site, the second points to the broad category the site falls in and the third section is the country code where the site is registered. For example, absa.co.za refers to Absa Bank's website. This site is registered in the commercial (co) domain of South Africa (za).
Domain Name Servers are the computers that receive the domain name, look up the relevant IP address and return this address back to your computer so that it can connect you to the site you wish to visit.
