All About the Domain Industry, Part 3: Domain Name Registrars

The Domain Industry is complex and is made up of many different entities, from regulatory bodies to registrars to the end customer.  The following is part three of a multi-post series on the domain industry and its structure – intended to give a broad overview and some basic insights into the industry.

Posts: Part 1: ICANN, Part 2: Registries, Part 3: Registrars , Part 4: The Domain Aftermarket , Part 5: Customers & End Users

Registrars: The Basics

This one is pretty straightforward.  Of the different entities in the domain industry, registrars are probably the one you’re most familiar with.  Dotster is a domain registrar – one of the larger ones, in fact.  A registrar works as the go-between for all the different TLD registries and end-users.  When a domain is registered through Dotster by a customer, we take your information and submit it to the registry for the TLD you purchased.  They store the information in the database, and we keep track to make sure your information stays current and keep you in the loop about when your domain expires.

Where Domain Registrars Fit in the Industry

Registrars are right in the middle of the domain registration action.  Registrars deal with all the other groups in the industry.  They are subject to ICANN regulation, sell to domain buyers, pay registries to add or renew domains in registry databases, and deal with the domain aftermarket for expired domains.  ICANN has specified that domains must be registered through a designated registrar, rather than directly with a registry.  The introduction of registrars into the process in the late 1990s helped create competition and keep domain prices affordable for end users.

How Registrars Affect You

Picking the right registrar can actually be a fairly important process.  Perhaps more accurately, picking the wrong registrar can pose a major problem down the road.  Issues exist or have existed with registrars name tasting, blocking domain transfers, and even losing ICANN accreditation.  Luckily, most registrars (including Dotster) do a good job of keeping their customers best interests in mind and staying out of shadier practices that exist.  Many registrars also offer additional services and domain tools such as DNS management that you’ll want to have available to make full use of your domain.  Whether you pick Dotster or a competitor, we suggest you do some basic research to make sure you’re choosing a registrar with a good track record.