What is a Domain Registrar?
A domain registrar is an organization accredited by ICANN to sell and manage domain name registrations on behalf of registrants, serving as the intermediary between domain buyers and the domain registry.
How Does Domain Registrar Work?
Domain registrars handle the technical and administrative aspects of reserving domain names within the global Domain Name System. When you purchase a domain through a registrar, they update the central registry database to associate that domain with your nameservers and contact information. Well-known registrars include Namecheap, GoDaddy, Google Domains, and Cloudflare Registrar.
Choosing a registrar involves considering factors like pricing, renewal rates, included services such as WHOIS privacy protection, DNS management tools, and the ease of transferring domains. Some registrars offer steep initial discounts but charge significantly more upon renewal, so it is wise to compare total cost of ownership rather than just the first-year registration price.