Editing Domain name (section)

==Purpose==
Domain names serve to identify Internet resources, such as computers, networks, and services, with a text-based label that is easier to memorize than the numerical addresses used in the Internet protocols. A domain name may represent entire collections of such resources or individual instances. Individual Internet host computers use domain names as host identifiers, also called [[hostname]]s. The term ''hostname'' is also used for the leaf labels in the domain name system, usually without further subordinate domain name space. Hostnames appear as a component in [[Uniform Resource Locator]]s (URLs) for Internet resources such as [[website]]s (e.g., en.wikipedia.org).

Domain names are also used as simple identification labels to indicate ownership or control of a resource. Such examples are the realm identifiers used in the [[Session Initiation Protocol]] (SIP), the [[Domain Keys]] used to verify DNS domains in [[e-mail]] systems, and in many other [[Uniform Resource Identifier]]s (URIs).

An important function of domain names is to provide easily recognizable and memorizable names to numerically [[IP address|addressed]] Internet resources. This abstraction allows any resource to be moved to a different physical location in the address topology of the network, globally or locally in an [[intranet]]. Such a move usually requires changing the IP address of a resource and the corresponding translation of this IP address to and from its domain name.

Domain names are used to establish a unique identity. Organizations can choose a domain name that corresponds to their name, helping Internet users to reach them easily.

A generic domain is a name that defines a general category, rather than a specific or personal instance, for example, the name of an industry, rather than a company name. Some examples of generic names are ''books.com'', ''music.com'', and ''travel.info''. Companies have created brands based on generic names, and such generic domain names may be valuable.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Low |first1=Jerry |title=Why are generic domains so expensive? |url=https://www.therealjerrylow.com/why-are-generic-domains-so-expensive/ |website=TheRealJerryLow.com |access-date=27 September 2018 |archive-date=20 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320084058/https://www.therealjerrylow.com/why-are-generic-domains-so-expensive/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Domain names are often simply referred to as ''domains'' and domain name registrants are frequently referred to as ''domain owners'', although domain name registration with a registrar does not confer any legal ownership of the domain name, only an exclusive right of use for a particular duration of time. The use of domain names in commerce may subject them to [[trademark law]].