What Is a Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN): Structure and Examples

It is essential to understand that an FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name) differs from a URL, as these terms create confusion and often require clarification. A Fully Qualified Domain Name is a small part of a URL formed by domain levels and subdomains for resource location.

Whereas URL is the whole of the web address that has a hierarchy of protocol, domain, host, directory/path, etc.

Understanding the different types of domains and choosing a reliable domain name from a secure host is critical for a website owner. If you want to register an NZ domain name, opt for a reliable domain host to ensure the best hosting experience for your website. 

In this article, we’ll dive deep into what FQDN is. 

What is a Fully Qualified Domain Name and its Structure?

Let us understand what a fully qualified domain name is with the help of an example.-

http://www.domain.com/path/……

1. https:// (protocol): 

HTTP stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol, a standard governing for exchange of information on the internet. It controls how messages are formatted and transmitted through various browsers and servers, allowing users to communicate through webpages on the World Wide Web.

2. www. (Hostname):

The hostname is a tag given within a Fully Qualified Domain Name that aids in identifying a particular network resource. In simple language, it is a user-friendly name given to a server or a service, i.e., it supports finding the network request to its appropriate destination. For instance, in our above example, “www” indicates the website; another example would be mail.exampledomain.com; it is for an email server or FTP in case of an FTP server.

3. Top-Level Domain: 

It is known to be the highest-level domain in FQDN, whose position is to the right-hand side of the dot. The significance of this domain is that it identifies the category of the website resource. For instance, in our example, it is .com, which is generic; it can also be .org or country code specific, like .uk.

4. Second Level Domain:

This domain, also known as the root domain, is located on the left-hand side of the top-level domain, i.e., it is the primary identification for any website. It is a prominent domain name registered and controlled wholly by the domain owner. In our example, the word “domain” is a second-level domain.

5. Subdomain: 

They are added on the left-hand side of the root domain, categorizing content services or resources under the main domain.For Instance “blog.xyz.com,” “store.xyz.com,” and “support.xyz.com.”It directs users to particular areas of your website or distinct services.

6. Trailing Dot:  

The trailing dot is a starting point of the website address, which is situated at the end of the website name. Although they are not immediately identifiable by the human eye, systems accurately see them and help identify a particular website. By using the trailing dot in your fqdn, the system gets a clear indication and provides the correct result. Therefore, it is also an essential aspect of a fully qualified domain name. However, modern web browsers are structured to assume its imperativeness, ensuring that you usually get the complete address.

Conclusion

Therefore, Fully Qualified Domain Names are an essential part of the URL, which is formed with a standard structure that includes protocol (HTTP), hostname (identifying the server), top-level domain (indicating website category), second-level domain (primary identification for the website), subdomains (categorizing content or services), and the often overlooked trailing dot (ensuring accurate website identification) all playing an important role accurate online navigation.