South Africa:
Difference Between A Domain Name And A Website
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A domain name is essentially the address which directs users to
a particular internet location. This internet location has a unique
identifier, the Internet Protocol (IP) address, which would also
direct users to the particular location. However, remembering the
IP address (e.g. 88.215.89.1) for each website is challenging at
best, so domain names provide an easy-to-recall alternative. Domain
names must be registered and domain names which closely resemble or
are associated with the company name are typically ideal for
ensuring customer memory retention.
The particular internet location to which a domain name leads
can include a website, which is hosted by web hosting. The website
can include HTML pages, images and other website building data
– all the content a user is able to view and access after
entering the domain name into the Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
search bar. Therefore, to create a website, it is necessary to have
a registered domain name and web hosting. These are independent
services although they are often offered together by a single
service provider.
A domain name can be registered and not be associated with a
particular website. This is often the case when defensive domain
strategies are employed. In certain instances, multiple domain
names can refer users to the same website hosted on a single,
primary domain name used by the company. Companies can also
consider moving their website from one domain to another, depending
on the effect this will have on search engine optimisation.
Whilst the content of a website is generally automatically
protected under copyright in South Africa, domain names must be
registered to be reserved for a particular proprietor. Smit &
Van Wyk can assist with the registration of domain names and can
suggest suitable web hosting options depending on website
requirements.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.
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