This will be a list of domain name terms that are commonly used in the industry. I hope this eases some confusion or at least educates a few people out there. There's nothing more frustrating than talking to customer service and not understanding the words they're saying.
Administrative Contact: The administrative contact is an individual authorized to make certain changes to a domain name on behalf of the registrant. This person will tyically have the ability to transfer a domain name, so it's recommended to be someone the registrant trusts.
Appraising: Evaluating a domain name and determining the value of that domain in the market.
Country Code: These are special TLD's that refer to a specific country. For example, .us is the United States while .ca is Canada.
Deactivation: This refers to a domain name no longer being in the "zone files". The domain servers no longer have access to the domain name's data, and any websites or email addresses associated with the domain name will become inactive. A domain that is deactivated may still be renewed.
Deletion: This is when a domain has gone through the entire life cycle of a domain name and will be deleted from the registry's master list. Once a domain name is deleted, it instantly becomes available for public purchase.
Domain Name: The letters or words typed into a web browser that signifies a website.
Domain Name Dispute: This refers to a dispute over who owns a given domain name. This can also happen when a domain name is similar to another domain that is trademarked by someone. There is a policy that defines this process called Domain Name Dispute Policy.
Domain Servers: Usually referred to as DNS (Domain Name System). These hold records or data for a domain name. Most registrars require at least two domain servers to be set for a domain name. These tell computers around the world how to find the domain name and view the appropriate web page, or deliver an email message. They do the "mapping" on the internet highway.
DNS: See "Domain Servers"
Escrow: A third party service that is used during the sale of a domain name from one person to another. These companies will hold the buyer's money until the transfer of the domain name is complete. This ensures that both the buyer and the seller are protected during the transaction.
Host: This is the computer or server that contains the data for the domain name such as a website or email. These computers or servers are typically owned by a hosting company or web host.
ICANN: Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers - A non profit organization that handles IP address space allocation and most other regulatory tasks associated with domain names. They make the rules for how registrars and registries can behave.
IP Address" A numerical address that computers use to route data in the format of (123.123.123.123). When you type in a domain name, it actually finds its IP Address and sends the user to that IP.
Parking: This is a type of hosting style that can be used for any domain name. When a domain is "parked" there is no real website or content. Usually people will park domain names as a temporary solution until they have found a hosting company to use.
Private Registration: This is also known as WHOIS Privacy services. This will put alternate information in the WHOIS record for a domain name. This is useful if you wish to keep your contact information private.
Propagation: The process where name servers throughout the world add new domains and remove expired ones from their records. This can take anywhere between a few minutes and 72 hours depending on a number of factors. Please note that a registrar cannot make this go faster for your domain name. When you change your DNS or register a new domain name, propagation must take place.
Redemption: The redemption grace period is a time frame lasting roughly 30 days. A domain name will go into the redemption status after a registrar deletes the domain name record from their internal database. This does not mean the domain is deleted and available for public purchase. The domain can still be redeemed but it must go back to the previous owner and there are usually very steep fees to do so. Also, you may only redeem the domain name with the registrar it was previously registered with.
Registrant: This is considered the owner of the domain name. Typically this information cannot be changed easily to ensure the domain name does not leave the hands of the owner.
Registrant Name Change Agreement (RNCA): This is the process of changing information for a registrant such as the name of the person or company who owns the domain name. This is usually considered a domain transfer, but happens within the registrar from one account to another. It is important to note that it occurs within the same registrar.
Registration: The process of purchasing a domain name. Once a new domain name has been purchased it is considered "registered".
Registrar: A registrar is a company that is able to sell domain names to the public. Registrars purchase their domains from the registries for each TLD.
Registry: A registry is a company that holds a master list of all registered domain names for the TLD they represent. For instance, VeriSign is the registry for COM and NET, but the Public Interest Registry is the registry for ORG. They do not sell domains to the public, but rather sell domains to registrars.
Renew: When a domain name reaches its expiration date it will eventually go into the deletion cycle. It is important that a domain owner who wishes to keep the domain name renew it. The owner would pay for another registration term and keep the domain name. Please note that anyone can renew any domain name. You do not have to be the owner or even associated with the domain name to renew it, however, the ownership never changes when a domain is renewed.
Reseller: There are many companies out there that resell a domain name. Typically someone registers a domain name at the reseller's website and then the reseller registers the domain name on your behalf with a registrar. In almost all cases, if you purchase a domain name through a reseller, you must use them for support. If your reseller won't support you, you should call the registrar immediately and file a complaint. Ask if there is a way to leave the reseller's account and use one of your own. Be warned that the prices the registrar offers you may not be the same as the reseller offered.
Resolve: This is commonly used to describe if a website appears when you type in a domain name. If the site does not appear, then it is considered to not be resolving. Technically, it is when the domain name is tied to an IP address regardless if there is a website or not.
Subdomain: A domain name has three parts. In the example http://www.domainname.com each part is separated by a dot (.). The first part (www) is a subdomain. The second part (domainname) is a domain name and the third part (com) is a Top Level Domain or TLD.
Top Level Domain: Commonly known as TLD - this is the last part of a domain name (.com, .net, .org are all TLD's).
Transfer: This refers to the process of taking a domain name from one registrar and giving it to another. The actual registrar changes and the registrant information can potentially change as well. This is not to be confused with changing the DNS on a domain name. You don't want to call your registrar and initiate a transfer of the domain name by accident as you can potentially lose the domain name! Also note that the domain name may only be transferred if it meets the transfer requirements delegated by ICANN.
About the author:
Barry Davis has been in the domain name industry since 2000. He has contributed to the online community and now offers help for people in the domain industry at Domain Name Registrations.
WHOIS: A database that contains information on each registered domain name. This information includes the registrant's contact information, the administrative and technical contacts, the domain name servers, the creation, expiration, and last updated dates. Sometimes the WHOIS may contain some additional information depending on the registrar.
Zone File: A file that contains the data which allows a domain name to resolve to an IP address.
This privacy policy has been compiled to better serve those who are concerned with how their 'Personally identifiable information' (PII) is being used online. PII, as used in US privacy law and information security, is information that can be used on its own or with other information to identify, contact, or locate a single person, or to identify an individual in context. Please read our privacy policy carefully to get a clear understanding of how we collect, use, protect or otherwise handle your Personally Identifiable Information in accordance with our website.
What personal information do we collect from the people that visit our blog, website or app?
When ordering or registering on our site, as appropriate, you may be asked to enter your name, email address, phone number or other details to help you with your experience.
When do we collect information?
We collect information from you when you register on our site, place an order, subscribe to a newsletter or enter information on our site.
How do we use your information?
We may use the information we collect from you when you register, make a purchase, sign up for our newsletter, respond to a survey or marketing communication, surf the website, or use certain other site features in the following ways:
• To personalize user's experience and to allow us to deliver the type of content and product offerings in which you are most interested.
• To improve our website in order to better serve you.
• To allow us to better service you in responding to your customer service requests.
• To quickly process your transactions.
• To send periodic emails regarding your order or other products and services.
How do we protect visitor information?
Our website is scanned on a regular basis for security holes and known vulnerabilities in order to make your visit to our site as safe as possible.
We use regular Malware Scanning.
Your personal information is contained behind secured networks and is only accessible by a limited number of persons who have special access rights to such systems, and are required to keep the information confidential. In addition, all sensitive/credit information you supply is encrypted via Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology.
We implement a variety of security measures when a user places an order enters, submits, or accesses their information to maintain the safety of your personal information.
All transactions are processed through a gateway provider and are not stored or processed on our servers.
Do we use 'cookies'?
Yes. Cookies are small files that a site or its service provider transfers to your computer's hard drive through your Web browser (if you allow) that enables the site's or service provider's systems to recognize your browser and capture and remember certain information. For instance, we use cookies to help us remember and process the items in your shopping cart. They are also used to help us understand your preferences based on previous or current site activity, which enables us to provide you with improved services. We also use cookies to help us compile aggregate data about site traffic and site interaction so that we can offer better site experiences and tools in the future.
We use cookies to:
• Keep track of advertisements.
• Compile aggregate data about site traffic and site interactions in order to offer better site experiences and tools in the future. We may also use trusted third party services that track this information on our behalf.
You can choose to have your computer warn you each time a cookie is being sent, or you can choose to turn off all cookies. You do this through your browser (like Internet Explorer) settings. Each browser is a little different, so look at your browser's Help menu to learn the correct way to modify your cookies.
If users disable cookies in their browser:
If you disable cookies off, some features will be disabled It will turn off some of the features that make your site experience more efficient and some of our services will not function properly.
However, you can still place orders User Login over the telephone .
Third Party Disclosure
We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your personally identifiable information unless we provide you with advance notice. This does not include website hosting partners and other parties who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business, or servicing you, so long as those parties agree to keep this information confidential. We may also release your information when we believe release is appropriate to comply with the law, enforce our site policies, or protect ours or others' rights, property, or safety.
However, non-personally identifiable visitor information may be provided to other parties for marketing, advertising, or other uses.
Third party links
Occasionally, at our discretion, we may include or offer third party products or services on our website. These third party sites have separate and independent privacy policies. We therefore have no responsibility or liability for the content and activities of these linked sites. Nonetheless, we seek to protect the integrity of our site and welcome any feedback about these sites.
Google
Google's advertising requirements can be summed up by Google's Advertising Principles. They are put in place to provide a positive experience for users. https://support.google.com/adwordspolicy/answer/1316548?hl=en
We use Google AdSense Advertising on our website.
Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on our site. Google's use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to our users based on their visit to our site and other sites on the Internet. Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy.
We have implemented the following:
• Remarketing with Google AdSense
We along with third-party vendors, such as Google use first-party cookies (such as the Google Analytics cookies) and third-party cookies (such as the DoubleClick cookie) or other third-party identifiers together to compile data regarding user interactions with ad impressions, and other ad service functions as they relate to our website.
Opting out:
Users can set preferences for how Google advertises to you using the Google Ad Settings page. Alternatively, you can opt out by visiting the Network Advertising initiative opt out page or permanently using the Google Analytics Opt Out Browser add on.
California Online Privacy Protection Act
CalOPPA is the first state law in the nation to require commercial websites and online services to post a privacy policy. The law's reach stretches well beyond California to require a person or company in the United States (and conceivably the world) that operates websites collecting personally identifiable information from California consumers to post a conspicuous privacy policy on its website stating exactly the information being collected and those individuals with whom it is being shared, and to comply with this policy. - See more at: http://consumercal.org/california-online-privacy-protection-act-caloppa/#sthash.0FdRbT51.dpuf
According to CalOPPA we agree to the following:
Users can visit our site anonymously
Once this privacy policy is created, we will add a link to it on our home page, or as a minimum on the first significant page after entering our website.
Our Privacy Policy link includes the word 'Privacy', and can be easily be found on the page specified above.
Users will be notified of any privacy policy changes:
• On our Privacy Policy Page
Users are able to change their personal information:
• By emailing us
• By calling us
• By logging in to their account
• By chatting with us or sending us a ticket
How does our site handle do not track signals?
We honor do not track signals and do not track, plant cookies, or use advertising when a Do Not Track (DNT) browser mechanism is in place.
Does our site allow third party behavioral tracking?
It's also important to note that we do not allow third party behavioral tracking
COPPA (Children Online Privacy Protection Act)
When it comes to the collection of personal information from children under 13, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) puts parents in control. The Federal Trade Commission, the nation's consumer protection agency, enforces the COPPA Rule, which spells out what operators of websites and online services must do to protect children's privacy and safety online.
We do not specifically market to children under 13.
Fair Information Practices
The Fair Information Practices Principles form the backbone of privacy law in the United States and the concepts they include have played a significant role in the development of data protection laws around the globe. Understanding the Fair Information Practice Principles and how they should be implemented is critical to comply with the various privacy laws that protect personal information.
In order to be in line with Fair Information Practices we will take the following responsive action, should a data breach occur: We will notify the users via email
• Within 7 business days
We will notify the users via in site notification
• Within 1 business day
We also agree to the individual redress principle, which requires that individuals have a right to pursue legally enforceable rights against data collectors and processors who fail to adhere to the law. This principle requires not only that individuals have enforceable rights against data users, but also that individuals have recourse to courts or a government agency to investigate and/or prosecute non-compliance by data processors.
CAN SPAM Act
The CAN-SPAM Act is a law that sets the rules for commercial email, establishes requirements for commercial messages, gives recipients the right to have emails stopped from being sent to them, and spells out tough penalties for violations.
We collect your email address in order to:
• Send information, respond to inquiries, and/or other requests or questions.
• Process orders and to send information and updates pertaining to orders
• We may also send you additional information related to your product and/or service.
• Market to our mailing list or continue to send emails to our clients after the original transaction has occurred
To be in accordance with CANSPAM we agree to the following:
• NOT use false, or misleading subjects or email addresses
• Identify the message as an advertisement in some reasonable way
• Include the physical address of our business or site headquarters
• Monitor third party email marketing services for compliance, if one is used.
• Honor opt-out/unsubscribe requests quickly
• Allow users to unsubscribe by using the link at the bottom of each email
If at any time you would like to unsubscribe from receiving future emails, you can email us at
• Follow the instructions at the bottom of each email.
and we will promptly remove you from ALL correspondence.
Contacting Us
If there are any questions regarding this privacy policy you may contact us using the information below.
nameoptions.com
Toronto, Ontario M8W 3V3
Canada
privacy@nameoptions.com
647-797-5595