Domain Names

A domain name is the address for a website that appears in the browser bar. For example, our domain name is ‘123-reg.co.uk’. There are two parts to every domain: the main name (like “123-Reg”) and the extension (like ‘.co.uk’). No two websites can have the same address - so when you buy a domain name, it’s unique to you..

The extension at the end is called the TLD, or Top-Level Domain. These include familiar options like .com, .co.uk, or .net, as well as niche and on-brand choices like .club, .london, .store, and so on.

At 123 Reg, we’ve got a huge selection of domain extensions to choose from. It’s easy to find a memorable name with a suffix that matches your business or project, as you can use our domain name search to see which extensions are available for your desired name.

Top-Level Domains can be broken down into different categories, such as generic TLDs and country-code TLDs.

Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) are alternatives to traditional suffixes like .co.uk. Choose from practical extensions like .tech, .web, and .club, or stand out from the crowd with a unique suffix like .life or .xyz. Some gTLDs have specific registration restrictions that limit their use to particular purposes, organisations or regions. For instance, .archi is reserved for professional architects or architecture firms. Find out more about gTLDs and check if yours is available now.

Country-code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs) correspond to a specific country or location. For example, .uk is for the United Kingdom, while .mx is for Mexico. There may be rules for registering certain ccTLDs. Some, like .de for Germany or .it for Italy, have residency restrictions, which means that registrants must live in the country of the domain extension they want to use. However, most ccTLDs can be registered by anyone without any restrictions, including .uk, .co, .es, and many more.

Don’t worry – we’ll let you know! You’ll find specific information regarding any registration restrictions that apply. For more information, please read the following article: What is a domain name and how can I buy one?

Think of your domain like a web address – the place people will find you online. Each website resides on an internet web server or host. Computers access these hosts using numerical IP addresses, such as 92.51.159.41, which aren’t very memorable for human beings.

A Domain Name translates an IP address to a more memorable, text-based version so that people don’t need to punch in a huge string of numbers to find the websites they want. This is all made possible by something called the Domain Name System (DNS).

You’ll get complete DNS management as standard with your domain name. You can also use web forwarding to point your web address to any website, including your Facebook page, and update your MX records to control your email address.

You can check the availability of a domain name by using the search function displayed on this page or on our Homepage. Simply enter your ideal name and you’ll be given a list of relevant options for you to purchase.

It's easy to register your own domain name. Just enter your ideal web address into our search tool, take a look through available suggestions to find a great option, and add it to your basket. From there, it's a smooth ride through to checkout - and getting your own domain!

You'll need to provide your name, address and a few other contact details to buy a domain name. It's important that the information you share is valid and up-to-date, in case there’s a situation where you need to show proof of ownership.

You can even purchase multiple domains at once with our handy Bulk Domain tool. In fact, we recommend that you buy multiple extensions of the same address (like 'your-name.uk'and 'your-name.co.uk') to make them exclusively yours. This will give your brand a boost and help to protect your business from competitors.

Whether you want to buy them all at once or separately, you'll find domain management a breeze with our user-friendly Control Panel.

Note that some types of domains have registration restrictions. Please see the 'What extensions do you sell?' question above for more details or read the following article: What is a domain name and how can I buy one?

You can check upcoming renewals and make sure your services remain uninterrupted via your Control Panel. We'll automatically renew your domain names for the same period as their last purchase or renewal. However, it’s easy to turn off auto-renew as you please. We'll always send you a reminder when it's time for renewal, using the main contact email address listed in your personal information.

For more information, please read the following article: How do I renew my domain names?

Yes! Select 123 Reg products allow you to register a free domain, giving you the perfect start for your online journey.

Learn more about how you can claim a FREE domain name

There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing a domain name, but here are a few pointers to help you find a good online address:

• Keep it short, simple and memorable - around 10 characters long

• Try to feature your business name or the services you offer

• Make sure it's easy to spell and pronounce

• Don't include special characters or punctuation (i.e. $ ! &)

• Select a relevant extension (i.e. if you’re a British business, go for .UK)

Don't be discouraged if your first choice is already taken! We offer a huge selection of domains at 123 Reg, making it easy to find a memorable name that’s right for your business.

Use our domain search tool to discover countless options and find the perfect fit. Simply enter your keywords, and let us suggest creative combinations with various extensions, so you can buy a new domain that's ready to claim!

You might also like to consider Premium Domains. These are highly sought-after domains that have previously been registered, but are now available to purchase again on the open market. Check out our selection of Premium Domains to claim your perfect web address.

Certainly – you can cancel any time you choose.

Simply log into your Control Panel, go to the Domain Names section, click Manage Auto Renewal and choose the name you wish to cancel/allow to expire.

Click Confirm to confirm the name you have chosen, and you will also see the date they are due to expire.

If you want to use your domain name for a branded or personalised email address such as yourname@yourdomain.com, you will need a 123 Reg mailbox to enable you to send and receive emails.

When you use the 123 Reg mailbox, you have three options to retrieve your email:

123 Reg Webmail - This option allows you to access the emails sent to your new customised address, no matter where you are.

Email Client - With this option, you can receive email to your PC or laptop through an email client of your choice such as Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, Eudora or Apple Mail.

Mobile Device – You can easily set up 123 Reg mailboxes to your mobile device, giving you access to your email from anywhere with an internet connection.

It's really easy to transfer any existing domains you might have over to us. The first thing you'll need to do is contact your current provider and make sure they are OK with the transfer. Once you get the thumbs up from them, you can head to your control panel and carry out the transfer straight from there.

There are slightly different transfer procedures which depend on the type of extension you're transferring and where you're moving it from, but don't worry, we have step-by-step guides for all of them. We also offer free transfers on selected domains.

Find out more about moving your domain name to 123 Reg