What is a domain name?
Every server on the internet has a numeric IP address, which is hard to remember. A domain name is a human-friendly name that points to that address, so visitors can type example.com instead of a string of numbers.
Parts of a domain name
- Name: the part you choose, such as hyyat.
- Extension (TLD): the ending, such as .com or .sa.
- Subdomain: an optional prefix such as blog. or shop. that you can create for free.
Common domain extensions
- Generic: .com, .net, .org and many newer ones such as .online and .store.
- Country code: such as .sa for Saudi Arabia, .ae for the UAE and .eg for Egypt.
- Arabic script: such as .السعودية.
How does a domain work with hosting?
Think of the domain as your address and hosting as the house. The domain nameservers tell the internet which server hosts your website, and DNS records such as the A record point the domain to that server IP address. When someone types your domain, DNS finds your server and loads your site.
Saudi domains (.sa)
Saudi domains such as .sa, .com.sa and .السعودية are managed by the Saudi Network Information Center (SaudiNIC). They give your site a Saudi identity, build trust with customers in the Kingdom and help you appear in local search results. Registration has requirements, such as a commercial registration for businesses. See Saudi domain registration for SAR 99 per year with Hyyat Host.
How to register a domain
- Choose a short, easy-to-remember name that matches your brand.
- Check that it is available.
- Register it for one year or more and renew it before it expires.
- Point its nameservers to your hosting.
You can register your domain with Hyyat Host, including Saudi .sa domains for SAR 99 per year.