A domain name, also known as a web address or URL, is how people find your website. It’s a unique identifying address used to find and connect to a website through a web browser. For example, our domain name, www.fasthosts.co.uk, lets you quickly and easily access the Fasthosts website.

How do I get a domain name in the UK?

Registering a domain is very easy and only takes a few minutes. If you have a specific domain name in mind, all you need to do is check its availability with a domain provider such as Fasthosts. If your preferred domain is available, you can then register it almost instantly.

What domain names should I buy?

You should register domains suited to your website and location. For example, .co.uk is a great choice for a company aimed at the UK market, but .com is better for targeting a global audience. A wide range of domains also exist for various types of website, such as .org for organisations and many more.

Do I need a .com domain?

A .com domain is ideal if your website is for a business targeting an international market. For example, a large retailer that sells internationally should definitely consider using a .com domain. However, there are no specific rules on what type of domain to choose – ultimately it’s up to you.

What domain names are free?

Domain names are generally not available for free permanently, however you may be able to register a domain free for one year or longer as part of a special offer. At Fasthosts we also provide a domain name free for one year with our Website Builder and Web Hosting packages.

Do domain names expire?

Domain names are registered on an annual basis. If the domain owner decides not to renew the registration, it will expire. Conversely, if the domain owner doesn’t want to lose the domain, they can continue renewing their registration and keep it for as long as they want.

What makes up domain names?

Domain names are made up of the domain extension or 'top-level domain' (.com, .co.uk, etc.) and the second-level domain part (the 'example' in 'example.com'). When someone tries to access your website by typing in 'example.com' the DNS server will locate its IP address by first going to the group of .com domains, and then searching for the .com domain labelled 'example' to find your website.

If you want to add a blog or a shop to your website, you can create a subdomain (e.g. shop.example.com or blog.example.com). With Fasthosts domains, you can have unlimited subdomains.

What domain extensions are there?

Domain extensions or TLDs are categorised into groups. The original gTLDs (generic top-level domains) included .com, .org, .net, and .gov, and over time the list was expanded to include ccTLDs (country code top-level domains) like .uk, as well as more specific geographic domains like .london, .wales and .scot. Different extensions suit different purposes. For example, if your website is aimed at a UK audience, it makes sense to choose a .co.uk or a .uk domain. If you want your website to have international exposure, consider registering the same domain name with .eu and .com extensions. Securing your domains with as many available extensions as possible is the best way to reach the widest audience.

What characters can I include in my domain name?

Domain names can be made of up to 63 characters, and these characters can include the letters A-Z, numbers 0-9, and hyphens. However, hyphens cannot be the first or last character of your domain name. Domain names cannot include underscores, exclamation marks or any other characters. Domain names are not case sensitive.

Is domain registration difficult?

It's really easy to register domain names. All you have to do is find your perfect domain by using our domain availability checker. Simply search for an available domain name and you're good to go. Once you have completed your domain name registration you are ready to build a website or add an email package.

I already have a domain name, can I transfer it to Fasthosts?

Transferring your domain names to Fasthosts is easy and completely free. Visit our domain transfers page for more information.

Can you help me find the perfect domain name?

If you're choosing a domain name for your business there are certain tips you can follow. Your domain name should be similar to your business name. If the .com version of your ideal domain name is already taken, then consider choosing a more specific extension (e.g. yourcompany.florist). Consider using hyphens to make your domain easier to read (e.g. your-company.com). It's a good idea to protect your brand and register similar extensions (e.g. get yourcompany.com and yourcompany.co.uk). With the onset of social media applications and services such as Twitter and Facebook, it's generally a good idea to make sure you secure usernames which match or closely match your domain name. When you've got a domain in mind, use our instant domain search and find an available domain in seconds.

Can I sell my domain name?

Because we give you full access to your DNS (domain name system) records, we make it as easy as possible for you to transfer your domain names to other people. This means you can easily sell your domain if you want to.

Why do I need a domain?

A domain name is essential if you want your own website. Websites are hosted on servers, and users access them by interacting with the server via their web browser. All online content needs to be associated with a unique domain so that the server knows where to direct the user.

What is a domain extension?

A domain extension or top-level domain (TLD) is the last part of a domain name that places it in a certain category. For example, in the domain fasthosts.co.uk, the domain extension is .co.uk and it shows that the website is associated with a company (.co) that is based in the UK (.uk).

DNS (Domain Name System) is a naming system that translates domain names to numeric IP addresses that are more computer-friendly. You could think of DNS as the phonebook of the internet, because it connects a domain name to its IP in much the same way a person’s name is linked to their phone number.

What are new gTLDs or new domain extensions?

New generic top-level domains (gTLDs) or new domain extensions are domain endings that can be used as alternatives to traditional options like .com, .net and .org. Since 2013, a wide range of new gTLDs have become available, with some of the most popular being .blog, .online and .xyz.

Country code top-level domains, or ccTLDs, are domain extensions that are reserved for use within a specific country. For example, .uk for the UK, .fr for France and .in for India. In some cases, the registrant of a ccTLD must be a resident of the associated country, or meet some other requirements.

How do I transfer domain names?

Transferring your domain names to Fasthosts is easy and completely free. Visit our domain transfers page for more information.

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Why register domains with Fasthosts?

Unlimited email forwarding

Use our free email address forwarding service to redirect mail to any inbox of your choosing.

Data centre security

Our advanced data centres keep over one million domains running smoothly every single day.

Advanced DNS control

You get full Domain Name System (DNS) control with your domain name, so you can host your services wherever you like.

24/7 customer support

Our friendly and knowledgeable support team are available 24/7 to help you by phone, live chat or email.

Find your perfect domain name

Search for available domain names with our domain checker. Choose your website address and make it easy for people to find you online.

Boost your online presence

Your domain name defines the identity of your business, and choosing the right one is an important part of establishing your online brand. Search for a domain name from a wide range of extensions and find the right one to match your business. Register today and join the over one million domain names that are already hosted with us.

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Frequently asked questions

Questions about domain names? Our FAQs provide answers to the most common queries.

Does a domain name come with email?

There are a few options to get email on your domain name. Unlimited email address forwarding is completely free with all domains registered with Fasthosts. Create unlimited personal email addresses using your own domain name, e.g. you@yourdomain.co.uk, and use our free email forwarding service to redirect mail to your existing address, e.g. your Gmail or Hotmail account. Unlike many providers, we don't add our own signature text or advert links to your emails, even though our email address forwarding service is free.

Free email forwarding allows you to create professional email addresses to receive mail from, but in order to send email from your email address, you'll need a full mailbox facility. With business-class Email Hosting from Fasthosts for as little as £1 per month you can instantly open a personalised professional mailbox.