KodeKloud Notes

In this lesson, we will define several essential concepts related to domain names. Establishing a clear understanding of these terms—domain names, URLs, and email addresses—will enhance your comprehension of how they interact within an online ecosystem.

Consider this analogy: a domain name is like a piece of land that you own for a certain period. When you register a domain such as KodeKloud.com, you purchase a slice of internet real estate, which forms the foundation of your online identity.

The image illustrates the concept of domain names, depicting a person with a flag on a piece of land labeled "Your land," alongside a search bar with "kodekloud.com" entered.

When you enter KodeKloud.com into your browser, you're using a domain name. The browser then resolves this domain into a URL, especially when it identifies a web server that is actively exposing a service. It is crucial to distinguish a domain name from a URL:

Domain Name: Represents your online identity (e.g., KodeKloud.com).
URL: Specifies the location of a resource on the Internet, typically starting with HTTP or HTTPS.
Email Address: Recognized by the "@" symbol.

Within many organizations, servers may be assigned specific hostnames (for example, webserver01). When a hostname is combined with the organization's domain name, it forms a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN). For instance, the FQDN for the server becomes webserver01.kodekloud.com.

The image explains the components of a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN), showing that it consists of a hostname and an organization's domain name.

Many websites also incorporate the "www" subdomain, such as www.kodekloud.com. Traditionally, this prefix indicates that a service accessible via the web is being provided. However, using "www" is not mandatory for a website to function correctly.

The image explains the difference between a domain name and a URL, highlighting the subdomain "www" in the example "www.kodekloud.com."

Note

A domain name is your core identity on the Internet—similar to owning or renting a piece of land. This digital asset allows you to host multiple services such as websites, email servers, and more. The Domain Name System (DNS) plays a pivotal role by directing traffic based on how you configure your domain.

To summarize, think of a domain name as a piece of land where you can build different structures (websites, email services, etc.). The DNS functions like an urban planner, ensuring that traffic reaches the correct service.

The image is a diagram showing the domain "kodekloud.com" connected to a web server and email services, illustrating a network or service architecture.

Owning a public domain name grants you the flexibility to create various services and make them readily accessible. As you progress through this lesson, we will dive deeper into DNS understanding how it manages and routes internet traffic to the appropriate services.

For further reading, explore these additional resources:

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