What is the domain name of a site?
The domain name is, as Afnic says on its website, the equivalent of a postal addresses on the internet. Ideally, it's a memorable name that should point to a physical IP address. This domain name consists of a string of characters followed by an extension, or TLD, such as .com, .fr, or .net for example. It is also this domain name that is found after the "@" in an email address.
More info on domain name availability
Available domain name checker
The domain name availability checker tool works just like a classic search tool, but for available domains. You only need to type the name that you're thinking about into the domain name checker and click the "Search" button to check domain name availability. From here, you can choose to refine your domain name availability search using "Filters" to show you available domains based on keywords, whether they're on promotion, the current release phase, etc. And if you already have a few ideas for domain names in mind and you're not sure which available domains to choose, the domain name checker tool enables you to search for domain name availability with more than one term at once. There's no doubt that our domain name checker is a powerful tool in your search for available domains.
Buy available domains from the hundreds of TLDs we offer
After looking up a domain with our domain name availability tool, you’ll see a list of all the different available domains and variations you can purchase. If you’ve already decided on a particular domain ending, say “.com” for example, you can choose to filter out all the other domain endings during your domain name availability search. Our domain name checker tool features over 750 different domain endings, giving you a plethora of choices of available domains. In most cases, .com is the most popular domain ending and the one users will most easily remember. That being said, you should definitely check domain name availability with other domain endings as they all have interesting potential uses. Choices like .org and .net are also very popular, and may be more appropriate for your domain depending on the nature of your website and domain name availability.
Build a portfolio of domain names
You can purchase multiple versions of available domains, using different domain endings: this is often done in order to secure every popular domain ending to protect a website’s brand name, and to set up URL forwarding to the main domain name. Thanks to Gandi’s domain name bundles, you can benefit from discounts when you buy multiple domain names at once.
Use our domain name checker to pick the best result
Our domain name availability search tool is specially designed to help you find available domains that will be most beneficial to you. Some domains are very expensive, while others are a lot more affordable. Gandi’s domain checker tool helps you see which available domains are currently discounted. That way, comparing prices and finding the best deals on available domains is simple!
Understand the price of a domain name
You'll no doubt notice that the simplest and most effective domain names are often already being used by pre-existing sites or are otherwise already registered. And those that are available sometimes have prices well above average. These domain names, called "premium domain names" often accompany generic extensions that have recently appeared in order to offer alternatives to the traditional .com or .net, and display a higher price to discourage speculation around these highly requested web addresses. If you really want this domain name, you will have to put the resources into it and offer content and products capable of making this investment profitable.
But beyond pricing, what attributes should you consider when picking the best domain name for you?
In search of the ideal domain name
How to choose a domain name
When you search for your ideal domain name in the database of available domain names, you might be overwhelmed by the available options and feel unsure which domain to choose for your website's address. The best approach is to put yourself in your website visitors' shoes and choose your domain name from that perspective.
A domain that’s easy to remember...
Out of the hundreds of available domains you will see as you're using our domain name checker, you should pick one that really stands out. Your website needs a domain that’s easy to remember, spell, and pronounce.
...and to type!
But that’s not all! Your domain should also be easy to type. Who really wants to spend half a minute typing a site’s web address? In the age of fast load times and lighting-fast performance speeds, your domain name should be short and easy to quickly enter.
... with an extension consistent with your project and your content
Your ideal domain name's extension should also follow the two pieces of advice above. If the .com, is the easiest to remember, other possibilities for your TLDs ("Top Level Domain," your domain name's potential extension) can send a signal to your visitors about the nature of your business or your website. A .io will classify you among tech-related websites, a .wiki will clearly underline your desire to create a collaborative encyclopedia on a given subject, a .immo will leave no ambiguity about your professional field.
You could also make a word or phrase by combining your domain name and its ending. This practice, called "domain hacking" (for example "domainha.ck," because it diverts the extensions, often geographical, from their initial use (in our example, the .ck refers to the Cook Islands), very often makes it possible to broaden the range of possibilities for finding the ideal domain name for your website. Be careful, though, to check the requirements for registering a domain name with a country code TLD. In some cases, you must have to have a "local presence" postal address in the country in question.
Put simply, Gandi’s domain name availability tool was created for you to find available domains that are right for your website(s). All you need to do is enter a few relevant keywords into the domain checker tool and select the domain name out of the list of available domains you like best!
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FAQ/frequently asked questions
What domain name will have the most impact on SEO?
- Choose a domain ending that's geo-localized (.us, .ca, .uk, .nyc, or .london), linked to what you do (.org, .tech, .store, .site), or targeted by product or services (.gay, .best, or .art)
- Choose a short and easy-to-remember domain name that uses keywords, or references your brand name or industry
- Choose a domain that already has some history (a reserved domain, an expired domain, etc.) to take advantage of the SEO that Google gives to sites that have been online for a few years. Use Gandi.net's WHOIS to find who owns a domain that's already registered
- Add an SSL (TLS) certificate to your domain for prioritization over sites that lack SSL
Can I buy a domain name without hosting?
It's possible to buy available domains without hosting. That also means you can host a website with another hosting provider if you want or just use the services you get with your domain, like email addresses.
Where can I see details about domains?
Use our WHOIS tool to get information about a domain. Search for a domain name and get details about the owner, when the domain expires, when it was created, etc. Use this to find available domains or get information about domains you may want to purchase.
What are the prices to buy available domains for a website?
Choose the domain endings you need from the catalog and get available domains at the best price:
- Prices for all domain endings
- Low-budget and bargain domain names
- Find all available domains with new domain endings
- Got a website creation project? Save money and time with a website pack: Your domain name is included for free with your hosting!
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