When starting a website, purchasing a domain name is among the very first steps. But do you know what happens behind the scenes to get your domain configured and resolve to your site? Domain registrars serve the critical function of registering and managing website domains and integrating them with the DNS for seamless functioning.
This article explores what registrars exactly do and why they are indispensable for setting up websites.
What is a Domain Name Registrar?
A domain name registrar is an accredited organisation or company authorised to reserve domain names for users. They work with governing bodies that manage domain extensions (like .in, .com, .org) and provide a platform where people can search for, register, and manage domain names.
However, that’s just the starting point. The responsibilities of a registrar stretch beyond registration, especially in areas like DNS configuration and site setup.
What Does a Domain Registrar Do?
A domain name registrar is an accredited company authorised to register and sell internet domain names to individuals and organisations. Some key responsibilities include:
- Facilitating domain search and purchase through their website or resellers. Popular extensions like .com and country codes are offered.
- Acting as the intermediary between the domain owner and the TLD (Top Level Domain) registries like Verisign for .com domains.
- Maintaining customer accounts and domain profiles with registration data.
- Enabling domain management via their control panel, like renewals, transfers, privacy settings etc.
- Providing authoritative DNS configuration for connecting the domain to the hosting server’s IP addresses.
- Offering add-on services like email, security certificates, hosting plans, etc., either in-house or through partnerships.
In essence, registrars handle all the technical nitty-gritty of registering domains and integrating them with DNS for functioning websites.
Connecting the Dots Between Domains, DNS and Registrars
The DNS or Domain Name System is like the phonebook of the internet – it resolves human-readable domain names to machine IP addresses needed to route traffic. For example, when you type www.example.com in your browser, DNS servers are accessed to find the real web server IP behind that name.
Registrars are the gateway into this DNS infrastructure that makes domain names work. During domain registration, they create authoritative DNS records that map the domain to IP addresses of nameservers. This publishes the domain’s DNS configuration into the global DNS root servers.
Post this, updating nameserver or IP details for the domain via the registrar automatically updates DNS, allowing seamless website hosting changes. Registrars also provide customers access to manage their own DNS settings if needed.
Choosing the Best Domain Name Registrar
With so much relying on registrars, it is crucial to choose a reputable provider. Here are some tips for selection:
- Check their accreditation status with ICANN to confirm they are approved registrars.
- Review domain prices and renewal costs, as pricing can vary across providers.
- Compare value-added services like privacy protection, DNSSEC signing, customised DNS etc.
- Evaluate their technical infrastructure and performance track record for DNS availability.
- Choose registrars providing intuitive and feature-rich domain management interfaces.
- Consider those offering 24/7 customer support via phone, email and live chat.
Conclusion
Although the procedure of registering or transferring a domain may look easy to a customer, numerous technical details that work behind the scenes with the help of a registrar involve the reliable functioning of DNS. Having a registrar that has strong DNS features and support is a comfort that when people type in your website, they will get a response.
