Overview Domain registration is the first step in establishing a digital presence. This lesson explains what domain registration entails, the roles of registrars and registries, and the lifecycle of a domain name. It also covers WHOIS data and privacy considerations, updated to reflect current ICANN and GDPR policies.

What Is Domain Registration? Registering a domain name reserves it for use on the internet. It does not grant permanent ownership—domains are leased for a defined period, typically between 1 and 10 years. Renewal is required to maintain control and prevent expiration.

A registered domain becomes the public-facing address of a website, email service, or application. Without registration, the domain remains inactive and cannot be used for DNS resolution or content delivery.

Registrars vs Registries Domain registration involves three distinct roles:

• Registry: The organization that manages the database of all domains under a specific Top-Level Domain (TLD). For example, Verisign operates the .com registry.
• Registrar: The company authorized to sell domain names to the public. Examples include GoDaddy, Namecheap, Squarespace (formerly Google Domains), and Cloudflare.
• Registrant: The individual or organization that registers the domain.

Registrars interface with registries via accredited systems and are responsible for managing renewals, DNS settings, and WHOIS data on behalf of the registrant.

Domain Lifecycle A domain name follows a predictable lifecycle:

1. Available – The domain is unregistered and open for purchase.
2. Registered/Active – The domain is assigned to a registrant and resolves via DNS.
3. Expired – The registration period ends without renewal. The domain enters a grace period.
4. Redemption – The domain can still be recovered, but incurs additional fees.
5. Released – The domain returns to the public pool and can be registered by anyone.

Failure to renew a domain can result in loss of ownership, service disruption, and reputational damage.

WHOIS and Privacy WHOIS is a protocol used to query domain registration data. It typically includes:

• Registrar name
• Registration and expiration dates
• Name servers
• Registrant contact information (if not redacted)

Due to GDPR and ICANN’s Temporary Specification, most WHOIS data is now masked by default. Registrars offer WHOIS privacy services to further protect personal information from public exposure.

Security Considerations Domain registration is a security-critical process. Best practices include:

• Enabling registrar lock to prevent unauthorized transfers
• Using strong passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA) for registrar accounts
• Monitoring WHOIS records for unauthorized changes
• Choosing registrars with transparent policies and DNSSEC support

A compromised domain can be hijacked, redirected, or used for phishing—making registrar-level security essential.

Key Takeaways

• Domain registration reserves a name for internet use but requires renewal to maintain control
• Registrars sell domains; registries manage TLD databases
• WHOIS data is now limited due to privacy regulations
• Domain lifecycle includes availability, registration, expiration, and release
• Registrar-level security is critical to prevent hijacking and maintain trust