This glossary provides clear definitions for common terms, acronyms, and phrases used throughout 101domain. Use this resource to better understand domain industry terminology and confidently navigate our products and services.
Domain Name Basics
Domain Name
A human-readable web address (e.g., example.com) that maps to an IP address and is used to access websites, email, and other internet resources.
TLD (Top-Level Domain)
The last part of a domain name (e.g., .com, .net, .org, .io).
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gTLD (Generic TLD): Non-country specific, such as
.com,.info,.xyz -
ccTLD (Country Code TLD): Country or region-specific, such as
.us,.de,.uk
Second-Level Domain (SLD)
The part of the domain immediately to the left of the TLD (e.g., example in example.com).
Subdomain
A subdivision of a domain that appears to the left of the SLD (e.g., blog.example.com, where blog is the subdomain).
Registry
The organization responsible for managing a specific TLD’s database, setting policies, and operating the authoritative name servers (e.g., Verisign for .com).
Registrar
A company accredited to sell domain names to the public and interface with registries (e.g., 101domain).
Domain Lifecycle and Statuses
Registration
The process of purchasing and activating a domain name for a specific term (usually 1 to 10 years).
Expiration Date
The date when a domain registration ends if it is not renewed.
Auto-Renewal
A setting that automatically renews a domain before it expires, billing the payment method on file. See Managing Your Domain Name Auto-Renewal Settings for steps on how to set this up.
Grace Period
A limited window after a domain’s expiration during which you can still renew it at the standard renewal rate, depending on the TLD’s rules.
Redemption Period / RGP (Redemption Grace Period)
A post-expiration state where the domain has been deleted by the registrar but can still be restored for an additional redemption fee, as defined by the registry.
Pending Delete
The final stage of the domain lifecycle before it is released back to the public. During this time, the domain cannot be restored.
Transfer (Registrar Transfer)
The process of moving a domain from one registrar to another while preserving the domain and its remaining registration time (plus any required additional year).
Internal Transfer / Push
Moving a domain between two 101domain accounts without changing the registrar.
Lock / Registrar Lock
A security status that prevents unauthorized domain transfers or changes. Often visible as “clientTransferProhibited”.
DNS and Name Service
DNS (Domain Name System)
The distributed system that converts human-readable domain names into IP addresses used by computers and servers.
Name Server (NS Record)
A DNS record that tells the internet which server is authoritative for a domain’s DNS (e.g., ns1.101domain.com). For guides on how to configure and manage DNS and Name Servers, see Modifying Name Servers and Records
A Record
A DNS record that maps a domain or subdomain to an IPv4 address.
AAAA Record
A DNS record that maps a domain or subdomain to an IPv6 address.
CNAME (Canonical Name) Record
A DNS record that points one hostname to another hostname (e.g., www.example.com → example.com).
MX (Mail Exchange) Record
A DNS record that specifies the mail server(s) responsible for handling email for a domain.
TXT Record
A flexible DNS record used to store text-based data, commonly for SPF, DKIM, and verification tokens.
TTL (Time To Live)
The amount of time (in seconds) that DNS resolvers cache a record before rechecking with the authoritative name server.
Hosting and Web Services
Interested in hosting services? See our Virtual Private Server Hosting and Dedicated Server Hosting products for more info.
Web Hosting
A service that provides storage and computing resources on a server so that websites and web applications can be accessed via the internet.
Shared Hosting
A type of hosting where multiple customers’ websites share the same physical server resources.
VPS (Virtual Private Server)
A virtualized server environment providing dedicated resources on a shared physical server.
Dedicated Server
A hosting arrangement where a physical server is reserved for a single customer.
Control Panel
A web-based interface (such as cPanel or a custom panel) that allows you to manage hosting-related settings: files, databases, email accounts, and more.
Security and Certificates
We also offer SSL certificates that you can find here: Buy SSL Certificates
SSL / TLS Certificate
A digital certificate that enables encrypted communication between your browser and a website, typically displayed as HTTPS and a padlock icon in the browser.
HTTPS
The secure version of HTTP, using SSL/TLS to encrypt data in transit between a browser and a server.
Certificate Authority (CA)
An organization that issues digital certificates and vouches for the identity of websites and domains.
DV (Domain Validation) Certificate
A TLS certificate type where the CA validates only that the applicant controls the domain.
OV (Organization Validation) Certificate
A TLS certificate type that includes validation of the organization’s identity in addition to domain control.
EV (Extended Validation) Certificate
A TLS certificate with the highest level of identity verification, often used by larger enterprises and financial institutions.
CSR (Certificate Signing Request)
An encoded request generated on a server that contains information needed by a CA to issue a certificate.
Email and Authentication
Email Hosting
A service that provides mailboxes, storage, and servers for sending and receiving email using a custom domain (e.g., user@example.com).
For email hosting services, we offer various plans of Google Workspace
Mailbox
An individual email account and storage allocation associated with a domain.
Forwarder / Alias
An email address that forwards messages to one or more other addresses without storing them locally.
SPF (Sender Policy Framework)
A DNS-based mechanism used to specify which mail servers are allowed to send email on behalf of a domain.
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)
An email authentication method that uses cryptographic signatures in message headers to prove that email was authorized by the domain.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance)
A DNS policy that works with SPF and DKIM to reduce email spoofing and enable reporting on fraudulent messages.
Billing, Orders, and Account Management
Order
A purchase transaction created when you buy or renew services such as domains, hosting, or SSL certificates.
Invoice
A billing document detailing the products, terms, and amounts due for an order.
Payment Method
Any form of payment saved to or used in your 101domain account (e.g., credit card).
Renewal
The process of extending the term of a domain or service before or after it expires.
Upgrade / Downgrade
Changing a service to a higher or lower plan or resource level (e.g., upgrading hosting RAM or storage).
Support
Support Ticket
A tracked request submitted by you (or internally on your behalf) for assistance, changes, or troubleshooting. See Opening a Support Ticket for instructions.
LiveChat
The method to reach out for support through a chat system available during office hours. See Opening a LiveChat Session for more details.
Two Factor Authentication (2FA)
An additional security method to protect your account from being hacked. When 2FA is enabled, you must enter the authentication code each time you log in. 2FA in our system will be through a self-generating app, such as Google Authenticator. See Setup Two-Factor Authentication for setup steps.
One-Time Verification Code
A code that provides an additional security layer beyond your username and password. It is used to verify your credentials for a single login attempt within a brief period.
Account Recovery
A process to recover your account if log in credentials or other critical account information are lost or forgotten.
Single Sign-On (SSO)
A critical authentication method that allows your organization to secure access to your 101domain account using a single set of company credentials.
Policies and Compliance
Terms of Service (ToS)
The set of rules and conditions that govern how you may use 101domain’s services.
Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
Detailed rules specifying which activities and content are allowed or prohibited when using 101domain services.
Privacy Policy
A document describing how 101domain collects, uses, stores, and protects your data.
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
European Union data protection legislation affecting how personal data is handled and processed, applicable to many 101domain customers and users.