Domain Names

A domain name is the address for a website that appears in the browser bar. For example, our domain name is '123 Reg.co.uk'.

There are two parts to every domain: the main name (i.e. '123 Reg') and the extension (i.e. '.co.uk'). No two websites can have the same domain name because it is unique to you.

You can check the availability of a domain name by using the search function displayed on this page or on our Homepage. Simply enter your ideal name and you’ll be given a list of relevant options for you to purchase.

Every site is hosted on an internet web server, or a “host”. Computers access these hosts using an IP – a string of numbers like 92.51.159.41 – but that’s not very memorable for human beings.

A Domain Name converts an IP address to a more memorable, text-based version so that people don’t need to punch in a huge string of numbers to find the websites they want. This is all done through the Domain Name System – more commonly known as DNS.

Think of your domains like web addresses – the place people will find you online.

An extension is the ending of a Domain Name. Extensions are commonly referred to as a TLD (Top-Level Domain), suffix, or domain root.

There are many types of TLDs such as ccTLDs, which are country code specific, like .uk for the UK, and gTLDs, which are new generic extensions such as .website.

Some of the most popular TLDs include .com, .org, .net and .biz.

Many businesses and brands register their name with multiple extensions to protect their online identity, increase visibility and attract more visitors to their website.

Some of the most popular extension types are Geographic and International domains.

Geographic TLDs are perfect for local businesses and organisations. They tell people in which city or region a shop, a restaurant or an agency is located. Extensions like .london, .vegas, .berlin and .tokyo are a great choice for attracting local customers.

International TLDs are the ideal choice for brands looking to promote their local presence and connect with customers from a specific country. Depending on which market or country you wish to target, you can go with an established international extension like .de, .es, .it or with the new .uk or .global.

gTLD stands for generic Top-Level Domain. It’s a category of extensions that are alternatives to the traditional .com, .co.uk and .de suffixes.

Also called ‘new gTLDs’ or ‘nTLDs’, there are now hundreds of great new extensions to choose from.

These gTLDs vary from practical extensions such as .web or .tech, to location-based ones such as .london or .wales, and even catchy extensions such as .ninja or .xyz. Find out more about gTLDs and check if yours is available now.

Country-code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs) correspond to a country, territory, or other geographic location.

For example: .uk represents the United Kingdom, .de is for Germany, .mx for Mexico and .ch is used for Switzerland.

The rules for registering ccTLDs vary significantly depending on the extension. Some ccTLDs such as .de have residency restrictions, meaning that registrants are required to be located in the country of the domain extension they want to use.

However, many of the ccTLDs can be registered by anyone without any restrictions, including .uk, .ch, .es and several more.

It's incredibly easy to register your own domain name. Simply follow the steps outlined below to get started:

1) Enter your ideal web address into our search tool

2) Find the most suitable option from our list of suggestions

3) Add it to your basket and continue to the checkout process

For more information, please read the following article: Getting started with 123 Reg Domain names.

In order to buy domain names, you’ll need to provide your name, address and a few other contact details. It’s crucial that the information you share is up-to-date and valid in case of a dispute or other situations where you need to show proof of ownership.

We will also need your payment details so we can process your registration.

We’ve got a huge selection! From traditional options like .com, .co.uk, .net and .org to unique alternatives like .club, .london, .ninja and .store, we have it all.

Use our domain search to see which extensions are available for your desired name.

Just a few.

Some domains have registration restrictions, meaning they can only be used for a specific purpose or by specific organisations/companies in a specific country or region.

For example, .archi can only be used by professional architects or architecture firms, while .eu can only be used by registrants who are located in a country in the European Union.

Don't worry - we make it obvious when restrictions apply. For every name you look up on 123 Reg, you will also find specific information regarding any registration restrictions that apply.

Although there's no wrong answer, here are a few important items to consider when deciding on your perfect web address:

• Keep it short, simple and memorable - around 10 characters long

• Try to feature your business name or the services you offer

• Make sure it's easy to spell and pronounce

• Don't include special characters or punctuation (i.e. $ ! &)

• Select a relevant extension (i.e. if you’re a British business, go for .UK)

Of course! In fact, we recommend that you buy multiple extensions (i.e. co.uk, .org, .com) so that no-one else can, helping to protect your business from any competitors.

Whether you wish to purchase several domains at the same time or separately, our tools allow you to do either. Best of all, they can all be easily managed from our intuitive Control Panel.

Certainly – you can cancel any time you choose.

Simply log into your Control Panel, go to the Domain Names section, click Manage Auto Renewal and choose the name you wish to cancel/allow to expire.

Click Confirm to confirm the name you have chosen, and you will also see the date they are due to expire.

If you want to use your domain name for a branded or custom email address such as yourname@yourdomain.com, you will need a 123 Reg mailbox to enable you to send and receive emails.

When you use the 123 Reg mailbox, you have three options to retrieve your email:

123 Reg Webmail - This option allows you to access the emails sent to your new customised address, no matter where you are.

Email Client - With this option, you can receive email to your PC or laptop through an email client of your choice such as Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, Eudora or Apple Mail.

Mobile Device – You can easily set up 123 Reg mailboxes to your mobile device, giving you access to your email from anywhere with an internet connection.

It's really easy to transfer any existing domains you might have over to us. The first thing you'll need to do is contact your current provider and make sure they are OK with the transfer. Once you get the thumbs up from them, you can head to your control panel and carry out the transfer straight from there.

There are slightly different transfer procedures which depend on the type of extension you're transferring and where you're moving it from, but don't worry, we have step-by-step guides for all of them. We also offer free transfers on selected domains.

Find out more about moving your domain name to 123 Reg