A
Account
The person or company ultimately responsible for a domain name. If you register your domain name as an individual, you personally will be considered the account holder. If you register as an organization, the organization itself is the account holder.

ABN
Australian business entities or entities carrying on a business in Australia who are registered for the goods and services tax (GST), will be assigned an ABN (Australian Business number) for taxation purposes in respect of GST charged and paid.

ACN
Under the Australian Corporations Law, every company in Australia has been issued with an Australian Company Number (ACN), which must be shown on a range of documents. The purpose of the ACN is to ensure adequate identification of companies when transacting business. Non-Australian entities can ignore this field.

Administrative Contact
The administrative contact is an individual authorized to make necessary changes, on behalf of the domain name owner. The administrative contact is also the person or organization that answers legal questions about the domain name. Generally the owner or an authorized person from your company is the administrative contact.
Also See Contacts

American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN)
American Registry is a non-profit organization established for the purpose of the administration and registration of IP addresses in the geography previously managed by Network Solutions.
See American Registry for Internet Numbers

Asia-Pacific Network Information Center (APNIC)
The Asian-Pacific Network Information Center is a collaborative effort consisting of national Network Information Centers (NICs) and Internet Service Providers within the Asian-Pacific region. The APNIC acts as a regional Internet Registry, providing the allocation of Internet Protocol (IP) address space to the Asian-Pacific region.

Authentication
The process of verifying the identity of an individual or organization. Authentication allows the recipient in an email transition to be confident of both the identity of the sender and the integrity of the message.
Also See Password

B
Billing Contact
The person or organization that is invoiced for registration and renewals. This is the person who is responsible for initial and recurring billing for the domain name. Keep in mind that it is very important to keep your billing information up to date.
Also See Contacts

Browser
Software used to search and retrieve information from the World Wide Web. The two commonly used are: Microsoft Explorer and Netscape.

C
.com
The top-level domain originally intended for commercial entities. One of the world wide top-level domain any person or organization may register a domain name.
Also See TLD

Contacts
Are individuals or groups who represent the registrant on matters related to the registered domain name. There are three types of contacts: administrative, technical and billing. A domain may be a group, single person or organization.
Also See Administrative, Technical and Billing Contacts

ccTLD
A standard two-letter abbreviation for the name of a country, for example www.ninemsn.com.au

D
DNSO (Domain Name Supporting Organization)
The DNSO structure is based on a General Assembly, Names Council and a set of constituencies. The objectives for DNSO are to develop and recommend substantive policies and procedures regarding TLDs, including operation, assignment and management of the domain name system and other related subjects.

Domain Name
A name that identifies one or more IP addresses. For example, a domain name can represent about a dozen IP addresses. Domain names are used in URL's to identify particular Web pages.
Also See IP Address, URL

Domain Name Disputes
Disputes that arise over conflicting positions as to, who have the right to register a specific domain name, often occur when a domain name that is the same, or similar to, a valid registered trademark is a registered party that is not the owner of the registered trademark.
Also See UDRP

Domain Name Owner
Is the person or organization which has legal ownership of the registered domain name.

Domain Name System (DNS)
Short for Domain Name System (or Service), an Internet service that translates domain names into IP addresses. Because domain names are alphabetic, they're easier to remember. The Internet however, is really based on IP addresses. Every time you use a domain name, therefore, a DNS service must translate the name into the corresponding IP address. For example, the domain name www.mydomain.com might translate to 198.105.232.4.
Also See IP Address

Dot or "."
The top of the hierarchy or root in the Domain Name System (DNS)

E
.edu
The top-level domain designated for four year, degree-granting colleges and universities.

Email Notification
Sending confirmation of an action that has been or is currently in process, via email.
Also See TLD

F
FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
A file transfer protocol (FTP) is an Internet standard for transferring files between computers. Most require you log in to the system supplying the information using an authorized username and password.

Fully Qualified Host Name
The full name of the computer hosting your domain name. If you decide to create a Web site for your domain name some time in the future, you will need to contact an Internet Service Provider or Web Hosting company to get the fully qualified host names of their computers.
Also See Domain Name

G
. gov
The top-level domain designated for agencies and branches of the government.
Also See TLD

GST
The GST is a tax on goods and services, (10 percent), based on the value added at each point in the production chain. It is passed down the chain to consumers who ultimately bear the tax, while business gets input credits or refunds of GST paid.

gTLD
Generic Top Level Domain eg.com, .net, .org, are all considered to be a generic top-level domain. A top-level domain name that is open to registrants around the world in contrast to country code top-level domains that are often restricted to registrants located in a particular country or region.
Also See TLD

H
Hold
A status code for a domain name indicating that it does not presently function as an Internet address. From a technical point of view, it is no longer included in the zone files for that top-level domain. The domain name record, however, remains in the registrar's DNS.
Also See Parked

Host
As applied to the Internet, it is a computer with an Internet address that runs the "server" programs that supply resources and services to the Net. When refering to name servers, the computers that have both the software and the data required to resolve domain names to Internet Protocol (IP) numbers.
Also See Name Server

I
ICANN
Internet Corporation for assigned names and numbers. ICANN is a Non-Profit organization in charge of overseeing domain name disputes and maintaining overall control of the domain name system.

Internet Protocol addresses (IP addresses)
A unique, numeric identifier used to specify hosts and networks. Internet Protocol (IP) numbers are part of a global, standardized scheme for identifying machines that are connected to the Internet. They are expressed as four numbers between 0 and 255, separated by periods, for example: 188.41.20.11.
Also See Domain Name System (DNS)

Internet Service Provider (ISP)
A person, organization, or company that provides access to the Internet. In addition to Internet access, many ISPs provide other services such as Web hosting, name service, and other proprietary services.

Invoice
A form of notifying customers that a payment is due for goods or services received, can also be used for tax purposes.

ISOC (Internet Society)
The ISOC is an international organization that was founded in 1992. The ISOC is dedicated to the expansion, development and availability of the Internet and holds an annual meeting, INET, in various locations around the world.

M
Member
A person or organisation who has joined for the purposes of managing thier regestered domain name.

N
Name Server
Also called a host (name server). A computer that has both the software and the data (zone file) needed to resolve domain names to Internet Protocol (IP) numbers.
Also See Domain Name System (DNS)

Name Service (Domain Name Service)
Providing individuals or organizations with domain name-to-Internet Protocol (IP) number resolution by maintaining and making available the hardware, software, and data needed to perform this function. Many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) operate name servers and provide their customers with name service when they register a domain name. Most individuals are not in a position to operate a name server on their own and will need to make arrangements for name service with an ISP or some other person or organization.
Also See Host
.
.net
The top-level domain designated for entities and computers that represent part of the Internet's infrastructure. Originally intended for use by Network Information Centers (NICs), Network Operations Centers (NOCs), administrative computers (such as a name server) and network node computers. One of the worldwide top-level domains.
Also See TLD

O
.org
The top-level domain designated for miscellaneous entities that do not fit under any of the other top-level domains. Typically used for non-profit organizations. One of the worldwide top-level domains.
Also See TLD

P
Park
A domain name is said to be on hold when its record is locked in the domain registry. Domain names that are on hold cannot be used to point to a given website. Domain names may be put on hold during dispute between two parties over the rightful ownership of the relevant name, so that neither party can make active use of the name for the duration of the dispute. Another reason may be that the site is not yet ready for public access.
Also See Hold

Password
A password is a secure method of keeping your domain name details private. A password will maintain the security of your account. It will ensure that no unauthorized parties can access your domain name information.
Also See Username

Primary Server
The name server that will contain authoritative information for the domain name and will be used to resolve that domain name to its corresponding IP number(s). The designation of "primary" means that this name server will be used first and will be relied upon before any of the other name servers that may be listed on the Domain Name Registration Agreement. This information is required for domain name registration.
Also See IP Numbers

R
Registrant
The individual or organization that registers a specific domain name, either with a registrar or a reseller. This individual or organization holds the right to use that specific domain name for a specified period of time, provided certain conditions are met and the registration fees are paid. This person or organization is the "legal entity" bound by the terms of the Domain Name Service Agreement.

Registration
The process through which individuals and organizations obtain a domain name. Registration of a domain name enables the individual or organization to use that particular domain name for a specified period of time, provided certain conditions are met and payment for services is made. Completing and submitting the Domain Name Registration Agreement accomplish registration of a new domain name.

Registrar
A registrar is a company or organization that is authorized to provide registration services for the top-level domains such as .com, .org and .net. Registrars have contractual agreements with their customers.

Renewal
The process of reinitiating a domain name's registration for a specified period of time. Renewing an existing domain name is accomplished by simply paying the re-registration fee, which covers one year of continued registration and maintenance.

Reseller
A business entity that uses a registrar to register a domain name on behalf of their clients. Special wholesale pricing applies to resellers.

Resolve
The term used to describe the process by which domain names are matched with corresponding Internet Protocol (IP) numbers. "Resolution" is accomplished by a combination of computers and software, referred to as name servers, which use the data in the Domain Name System to determine which IP numbers correspond to a particular domain name.

RIPE NCC (Reseaux IP Europeans Network Coordination Center)
A collaborative effort that consists of approximately 400 organizations, such as European Internet service providers. The RIPE NCC acts as a regional Internet Registry, providing the allocation of Internet Protocol (IP) numbers to the European region.

Root
The top of the Domain Name System (DNS) hierarchy. Often referred to as the "dot."

Root Server
A machine that has the software and data needed to locate name servers that contain authoritative data for the top-level domains (e.g., root, servers know which name servers contain authoritative data for .com, .net, .fr, .uk. etc.). The root servers are, in fact, name server, and contain authoritative data for the very top of the Domain Name System (DNS) hierarchy. Currently, technical specifications limit the number of root servers to 13. These machines are located around the globe, in the U.S., the U.K., Sweden, and Japan.

Routing Addresses
Routing is the technique by which data finds its way from one host computer to another. In the Internet context there are three major aspects of routing
1. Physical Address Determination
2. Selection of inter-network gateways
3. Symbolic and Numeric Addresses

S
Second Level Domain
In the Domain Name System (DNS), this is the next highest level in the hierarchy underneath the top-level domains. In a domain name, that portion of the domain name that appears immediately to the left of the top-level domain. For example, the "mydomain" in "www.mydomain.com".

Secondary Server
This name server will be used in addition to and as a backup for the primary name server that is listed on the Domain Name Registration Agreement.
Also See Server, Name Server, DNS

Secure Online Payment System
A system that allows customers to pay for their domain name registration and renewal (re-registration) fees 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by entering their credit card information directly via the Web. The system provides a fast and secure method of payment and requires that the customer have a browser that will support Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

Server
A computer station on a network that handles special tasks, such as disk storage, printing, or communications. A dedicated server handles only its special tasks. An Internet server is a program that interacts with user programs. For example, a "web server" provides World Wide Web pages to your browser program.

Shared Registration Service (SRS)
The SRS developed by the NSI Registry permits multiple registrars to provide Internet Domain Name Registration services within the TLDs administered by the NSI Registry.

T
Tax ID Number
A Tax Identification Number is the number assigned by an individual country to business entities in respect of the particular consumption tax levied on various goods and services. It is a single identifier for the tax that is charged and the refund you may be entitled to. For entities in European Union countries and other countries around the world this will be your VAT (Value Added Tax) Registration number. VAT is often recoverable for companies doing business in a foreign jurisdiction if they have VAT registration and if the particular company administers a tax refund scheme. The VAT is also recognized in different countries as MwST, TVA, MOMS and ITA.

Technical Contact
The technical contact is the person or organization that maintains the primary domain server. The technical contact should be able to answer technical questions about the domain name's primary domain name server and work with technically oriented people in other domains to solve technical problems that affect the domain name.
Also See Contact

Third Level Domain
In the Domain Name System, this is the next highest level in the hierarchy underneath the second level domains. It is that portion of the domain name that appears two segments to the left of the top-level domain. Third level domains are not the portion of an email address that appears in front of the @ symbol - for example, the webmaster in webmaster@mydomain.com is not a third level domain.

Top Level Domain (TLD)
In the Domain Name System, this is the highest level in the hierarchy after the root. In a domain name, that portion of the domain name that appears furthest to the right. For example, the "com" in "www.mydomain.com".
Also See gTLD

Transfer of Domain Name
This refers to the transfer of your domain name to another member. The following transactions are considered transfers and therefore must go through a transfer of domain name:

· From person to person
· Organization to organization
· Person to organization
· Organization to person

Transfer from Another Registrar
The process of transferring the registration of your domain name from your existing registrar to us.

U
Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP)
Under the policy, most types of trademark-based domain name disputes must be resolved by agreement, court action, or arbitration before a registrar will cancel, suspend, or transfer a domain name.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator)
A pointer to a page on the WWW or other resource on the Internet. A URL starts with the "http://" for web pages, or "ftp://" for FTP. This is then followed by the domain name, or the path to a document.

Username
A username is a unique name to maintain the security of your account. A password is used to maintain security of your domain name. You can only access member services and domain management once you have successfully entered your username and password.

W
Web Hosting
A host computer that is connected to the Internet and provides you with space where your web site is stored.

WhoIs
An Internet Utility that returns information about a domain name or IP address. For example, if you enter a domain name, WhoIs will return the name and address of the domain name's owner.

Z
Zone
A portion of the total domain name space that is represented by the data stored on a particular name server. The name server has authority over the zone - or the particular portion of the domain name space - described by that data.
Also See Name Server

Zone File
A file that contains data describing a portion of the domain name space. Zone files contain the information needed to resolve domain names to IP numbers.
Also See Internet Protocol Addresses

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