FQDN stands for “Fully Qualified Domain Name.” It is a complete and unambiguous domain name that specifies an exact location in the Domain Name System (DNS) hierarchy. An FQDN includes the host or computer name, the domain name, and all the higher-level domains (if any) that lead to it.
Here’s a breakdown of the components in an FQDN:
- Hostname: This is the name of a specific computer or device within a domain. For example, in the FQDN “www.example.com,” “www” is the hostname.
- Domain Name: This is the primary domain under which the hostname is registered. In the FQDN “www.example.com,” “example.com” is the domain name.
- Top-Level Domain (TLD): The highest level in the DNS hierarchy, often indicating the type or purpose of the domain. Examples include “.com,” “.org,” “.net,” and country code TLDs like “.us” or “.uk.”
Putting it all together, an FQDN specifies the complete path to a specific resource on the internet. For instance, “www.example.com” is a Fully Qualified Domain Name that identifies a web server named “www” within the “example.com” domain.
FQDNs are crucial for identifying and locating resources on the internet, including websites, email servers, and other networked services. They are used by DNS servers to resolve human-readable domain names into IP addresses, allowing computers to find and connect to the appropriate servers and services.