For companies and more and more private individuals, having their own website has become a matter of course. But what is still not always clear is how to differentiate between the domain name, the website content and all the necessary services such as a name service, web space and email address. The following article is intended to explain what you can use your domain for, and what you need in order to register it.

What is a domain?
A domain is a unique, freely selectable name which conforms to certain rules and appears under a top-level domain (TLD) – such as name.at. What lies beneath is nothing other than a string of numbers (an IP address) with the address of the server on which the content is saved. A distinction is made between generic top-level domains (gTLDs) such as .com, .org and .info and country code top level domains (ccTLDs) like .at and .de. In 2013, new gTLDs [R1] including .blog, .shop and .wien were introduced.

What can I use my domain for?
Put simply, a domain is an internet calling card which reflects the seriousness and professionalism of a business. It enables companies to be found more easily on the internet and present their content in a way that suits their needs. In a recent study, almost 50 percent of respondents indicated that they questioned the seriousness of an organisation if it did not have its own website and only maintained a social media profile[MP2] *.  Around 20 percent of those asked felt that it was important for private individuals to have their own domain. As a blog, as an online CV for job hunting, as a photo gallery for holiday snaps, as a wedding website, for file sharing and much more besides – there are no limits to what a domain can be for private users.

What do I need from a technical point of view?
A name server is needed so that the domain can be found on the internet – this is made available by the provider as part of the registration. To put content online or set up an email account, you need storage space on a web server or a mail server. And as most people don’t have a server of their own at home, they book the required server storage with a provider that also covers hosting services. The domain provides the basis for a website, as well as a professional email address. The majority of providers offer everything under one roof: domain registration, web hosting and email addresses. Many of them also supply website building tools and content management systems, which allow people without any programming skills to design their own websites. A tip: find out whether these tools always comply with the very latest security standards so that they do not become a target for attacks.  

Why choose a .at domain?
Country specific domains known as ccTLDs (country code top-level domains) comprise a two-letter code which complies with the 1974 ISO-3166 standard. The .at ending signals Austrian origins, and conveys the high quality that our country is known for all over the world. .at is ideal for businesses and private individuals who want to advertise their location and heritage with their domain from the outset.

Is my .at domain available?
You can use the nic.at Whois query to find out whether the desired domain is still available at the press of a button. If it has already been taken, you will only be able to see the current owner if it is a legal entity (company, organisation, association etc.). If it is held by a private individual then it is possible to submit a request for information provided you have a legally justified case.

The domain you want has already been snapped up? We have put together some tips showing you how to find a suitable alternative.

How can I acquire my .at domain?
In principle, .at domains are registered via a provider who also offers the sorts of technical services outlined above, and other add-ons such as email addresses and web space, cloud services and security features, which we are not able to supply as a registry. Our .at partner finder tool will help you find a provider who is right for you! 

Anyone who is looking to register a domain only – i.e. without any additional services – can do so with nic.at directly, but needs at least two correctly configured name servers, as we do not offer this technical service.

*nic.at Consumer Research 2019, conducted via marketagent.com, representative sample of the Austrian population