This is the address of a company, organisation or person on the internet that enables their information, products and/or services to be accessible all over the world through the internet.
It has a dual purpose:
There are three levels of domains on the internet:
- First level domains are those ending in com, gob, edu, org (and others) and are assigned by institutions designated by ICANN. The registration of .com, .org and .net domains is not subject to any kind of prior checking; they are assigned following the principle of "first come first served".
- Second level domain names are those identifying the country. In Spain, it is Red.es who assigns these domains, which are granted (if the requirements are met) to the first to request them. Domain names that have been previously assigned cannot be the object of an application. They must also comply with certain syntax rules and cannot include reserved terms in a series of lists (internet terms, terms relating to national or international institutions), as set out in the corresponding regulations.
- RED.es is also responsible for assigning third level domains: “.com.es”, “.nom.es”, “.org.es”, “.gob.es” and “.edu.es”. These third level domain names are assigned by giving priority to those who apply first. Domain names that have been previously assigned cannot be the object of an application. When “.gob.es” and “.edu.es” domain names are assigned, it is first verified that they meet the requirements outlined in current legislation and that they comply with the syntax rules. Third level “.com.es”, “.nom.es”, “.org.es” domain names also have to comply with syntax rules and cannot include reserved terms included in a series of lists (internet terms and terms relating to national and international institutions), as set out in the corresponding regulations.
