Canada domain registration

It seems like everybody in the world has his or her own web site. But how do people go about getting their own web site? It’s actually pretty easy.

The first thing people do is determine what they want their domain name to be. A domain name is usually very simple to remember and it relates directly to the web site’s content. For example, if the web site were a commercial site that sells pet supplies, then their domain name would be something like www.ABCpetsupplies.com.

The .com designation is the most widely recognized web site designation. However, it is not country-specific and is used primarily for commercial applications. Other designations that fall into this top-level generic domain name category include .net (network), .org (organization). and .edu (education).

Other web sites are designated by a country code. Canadian web sites are designated by .ca, while sites originating from the United Kingdom are designated by .uk, for example. These are known as top-level country code domain names, which are assigned by the United Nations and given out by certified domain name registration companies.

When an individual or company decides to register a domain name in Canada, they must first determine whether or not someone else is already using the name. Once a Canadian domain name is purchased, another individual or corporation cannot use it until the original user no longer wants it. If the Canadian domain name registration search comes back without a match, then it is available for purchase.

All .ca domain registrations are governed by CIRA – the Canadian Internet Registration Authority. CIRA is a not-for-profit organization that has been mandated by the Government of Canada to operate the .ca registration process.

CIRA does not sell .ca domain names – they handle the back-end/registration of the process, while certified CIRA registrars take care of the front-end – sales, support and customer service.

Once a domain name is registered in Canada, a web-hosting company must be found. CIRA is not a web hosting company.

A web site can be hosted by one of two entities – either by a web-hosting company or by an Internet Service Provider (ISP). Depending on your chosen web-hosting company, you may be charged an annual fee for this service. However, there are some free web-hosting companies available.

If the web site is for personal use or a small commercial venture, many people let their ISP company host the site for them, as web hosting is often a ‘perk’ associated with e-mail accounts.

When using an ISP hosting service, you are able to direct your ISP’s domain name service (a unique numerical address that computers use to locate web sites) to your .ca domain name. This transfer is seamless to the end user.

Web hosting companies will also allow you to park your domain name. This essentially means that you are able to purchase your .ca web site for use at a later date. This is particularly good for people or companies who want to have a worldwide presence. So no matter which domain extension used, the searcher will be directed to one site.