Domain Registration

Domain registration is not the same thing as DNS service.  Registering a domain name gives you the ability to set your DNS servers, but it does not provide the actual DNS resolution.  Many registrars do now offer free DNS service with a domain registration, and conversely, many hosting providers will provide free registration if you host your site with them.

Domain registrars are accredited by ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.  In addition to registrars, you may wish to purchase your domain name from a Domain Reseller.  Resellers are not accredited by ICANN, instead they resell the service of a registrar.  Often times resellers will provide much better customer support or service than a domain registrar, so don't just rule them out.

In addition to allowing you assign your authoritative nameservers, registering a domain name gives you the obligation of assigning the contact information for the domain.  This includes the name, address, and email address of the person(s) responsible for maintaining the domain.  This information goes into the registrar's WHOIS database and is a public record.  Because your email address is required, the WHOIS database has become an unfortunate source for spammers to gather names.  To combat this problem, some registrars and resellers offer private registrations which protect your name and email address while still allowing you to maintain your domain registration.

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