Getting Your Own Domain

A domain name is like a street address for your website. Instead of remembering a complicated server address, people can type **yourname.com**.

**The system:** - **Domain name** (e.g., myportfolio.com) - what people type - **DNS** - the system that translates names to server addresses - **Registrar** - the company you buy domains from

**Choosing a domain name:** - Keep it short and memorable - Avoid hyphens and numbers if possible - .com is most recognized, but .co, .io, .me are also great - Check if it's available before getting attached!

**Typical costs:** - .com domains: $10-15/year - Other extensions: $5-50/year - This is the one thing that costs money (everything else is free!)