newb - how does creating a website work?

[Mood]

this is a question that i've been asknig several computer experts and i'm still kinda confused. i've search online and still haven't found a clear and cut answer.


how does a website get it's name and own the right to that name. like for example google.com is google.com it owns that name. how does it own it and why is isn't it possible for another person/computer take google.com's domain name? how is it possible for a website to maintain it's name, when say the server goes down?

there are also websites like geocities which lets you make a sub-website but still, it's not a domain name or anything.

or those services where you have to pay 30 dollars a month to get a domain name. what gives them the right to license websites?

i'm kinda thrown in a loop here, can someone explain?

 

[CanadaRAM]

OK, the first step is to go to your ISP's website and read their FAQs.

To get a domain name you have to register it. This is done through a domain name registrar or reseller, it will cost you $8 - $15 per year depending who you register it through, and on what top level domain (.COM, .US, .BIZ etc.). Of course, the name can't be taken by someone else, and you can't grab a name that is already a tradename of someone else.

This gets you the right to use that domain name. Now, you have to have your domain and website hosted somewhere. Your ISP may include some web space free with your account, and they may or may not offer the service of hosting domains, for free or for a price. See the first step above.

If your ISP cannot do it, then there are any number of firms that offer hosting from $5 per month to $50 per month.

Check locally, or in the back of MacWorld, or on Yahoo for the names of domain registrars and web hosts.

When you sign up with a web host for your domain, they will add your domain name to their DNS (Domain Name Server) so that when someone types in http://www.moodsfabuloussite.com it goes to your website directory on their server. Back at the name registrar, you have to associate your domain record with the name of the host's DNS, so that the rest of the Domain Name Servers in the world know how to get to you.

Some hosts and ISPs offer soup-to-nuts service and will do all of this for you at a price.

 

[Mood]

what grants these domain name resellers to do this? is google paying some company in order to use google.com?

 

[CanadaRAM]

what grants these domain name resellers to do this? is google paying some company in order to use google.com?

There is an international domain name authority, and each country has their own country domain authorities. These authorities grant the rights to administer domain names to a limited number of master domain registrars, who sell registration services to 100's of companies, web hosts and ISPs, who in turn sell it to you.

Yes, Google pays their $15 per year to their registrar for the right to use google.com

 

[ham_man]

Yes, Google pays their $15 per year to their registrar for the right to use google.com

Even thought they have probably registered it until about 3456...