Short Answer: Domain names can include letters (a-z), numbers (0-9), and hyphens (-), but cannot start/end with hyphens. Special characters like !, #, or % are prohibited. The maximum length is 63 characters per segment. Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) permit accented letters for non-English languages. Always verify availability through ICANN-accredited registrars.
What Is Dedicated Hosting and How Does It Work?
How Do Technical Constraints Influence Domain Name Choices?
Technical limitations require domains to use ASCII-compatible characters (a-z, 0-9, hyphens) with a 253-character maximum for full domains. Servers read domains case-insensitively – “Example.COM” equals “example.com”. Hyphen stacking (e.g., best–deal.com) often triggers spam filters. The .com TLD remains most compatible with legacy systems and email services.
Domain name systems rely on DNS protocols designed in the 1980s, which explains the 63-character limit for individual labels (segments between dots). This constraint forces businesses to prioritize brevity over descriptiveness. For example, “newyorkcityrealestateagents.com” exceeds the limit and would need restructuring. Case insensitivity stems from RFC 4343 standards, meaning capital letters don’t affect domain resolution but can influence human perception in marketing materials.
| Allowed Characters | Prohibited Characters |
|---|---|
| a-z, 0-9, hyphen | ! @ $ % ^ & ( ) |
| Hyphen in middle | Hyphen at start/end |
Why Do Brand Protection Strategies Impact Domain Selection?
Corporations register common misspellings (ex: “gooogle.com”) and plural variants to combat cybersquatting. Pharmaceutical companies often secure .com and .net versions of drug names pre-launch. The 2019 Verizon v. Domain Asset Holdings lawsuit established precedents against typosquatting domains containing brand+generic terms like “verizonphones4u.net”.
Brand protection extends beyond trademark registration to include defensive domain strategies. Companies like Amazon own hundreds of variants including phonetic spellings (“amazun”), transliterations (“амазон”), and product-specific combinations (“kindlebooksstore”). A 2023 BrandShield report revealed 38% of phishing attacks use hyphenated domains mimicking legitimate brands. Proactive monitoring tools now scan for:
- Homoglyphs (e.g., using Cyrillic “а” instead of Latin “a”)
- TLD variations (brand.tk instead of .com)
- Expired domains with existing backlink profiles
FAQs
- Q: Can I change my domain name after registration?
- A: No – domains can’t be edited post-registration. You must purchase a new domain and redirect traffic.
- Q: Do emojis work in domain names?
- A: While emoji domains exist (e.g., .ws), they’re not universally supported and often blocked by security software.
- Q: How many hyphens are permitted in a domain?
- A: Maximum 4 consecutive hyphens in most TLDs, though exact limits vary by registry policies.