Understanding Domain Ownership
A domain name, such as example.com, serves as an address on the internet. But who controls domain ownership, and where is this information stored? The answer involves several key organizations and systems that ensure the internet remains functional and secure.
Who Controls Domain Ownership?
The global management of domain names is overseen by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). ICANN is a non-profit organization responsible for coordinating the Domain Name System (DNS), which ensures that domain names map correctly to their corresponding IP addresses.
However, ICANN does not directly sell or manage individual domain names. Instead, it authorizes and regulates domain registrars—companies that allow users to register and manage domain names. Some well-known registrars include:
- GoDaddy
- Namecheap
- Google Domains
- Cloudflare
- Hover
These registrars sell domain names to individuals and businesses while following ICANN regulations.
Where Is Domain Ownership Recorded?
When you purchase a domain, the ownership details are stored in a global database called WHOIS or RDAP (Registration Data Access Protocol). This database contains information such as:
- The registrant’s name (domain owner)
- Contact details (email, phone number, address)
- Registration and expiration dates
- The domain registrar managing the domain
Each domain registrar maintains WHOIS records for their customers, but ICANN ensures this data remains accessible and follows compliance rules. Some registrants choose to enable WHOIS privacy protection to hide their personal information.
Where Is the Central Control of Domains?
The central authority of domain name control is the ICANN Root Zone, which is maintained by:
- ICANN – The primary policy-making body.
- IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority) – A department within ICANN that manages the root zone database.
- Verisign – The company responsible for maintaining the root zone file and operating critical top-level domains (TLDs) like .com and .net.
- Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) – Organizations that manage IP address allocations for different regions, such as ARIN, RIPE NCC, APNIC, LACNIC, and AFRINIC.
The DNS Root Zone is the highest level of the domain hierarchy, containing records of all Top-Level Domains (TLDs) such as .com, .org, .net, and country-code TLDs like .id or .uk. The root servers, distributed globally, help resolve domain names into IP addresses.
Conclusion
Domain name ownership is managed by ICANN and accredited registrars, with ownership records stored in WHOIS/RDAP databases. The central domain control system operates through ICANN, IANA, Verisign, and root servers worldwide, ensuring the internet’s domain infrastructure remains stable and secure.