How does the domain name industry work?

The domain name industry is built on four key pillars:

• Registries – Companies that manage domain databases, such as .ME Registry for .ME domains, Verisign for .COM and .NET, or PIR for .ORG.
• Registrars – Companies that work with end customers and resellers to provide domain registration services, like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Dynadot.
• Resellers – Businesses that resell domains from registrars to end customers.
• Registrants – The end customers, whether individuals or businesses, who register domain names.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the global organization responsible for overseeing agreements between registries and registrars. It ensures the stability and security of the domain name system by managing the complex network of unique identifiers that allow computers on the Internet to find one another. Learn more at ICANN.