What does it mean to “Register” a URL or domain name?
There is a central registry of all domain names on the Internet. The act of “registering” a domain name means that you are adding it to the central registry and associates you with that domain name for the period of the registration. “Registering” a name means you own it, and no one else can register that exact same name unless and until you let your domain registration expire. That’s why it’s often a good practice to set up automatic domain renewals in case your forget. Choosing a longer term for your domain registration means you’ll have to deal with renewals less often.
