Most people are often confused between a URL and FQDN, although in many ways, both are the same, but there is a slight difference between the two. The primary reason for this confusion is the unfamiliarity and interchangeable usage of both terms.
So, in this article, we will focus on understanding FQDN why, and when it is used, and its relations with website domain names and domain hosting in Singapore.
What is FQDN?
Fully Qualified Domain Names is a part of the URL, which is formed with a standard structure that includes
- Protocol (HTTP),
- Hostname (helps in identifying the server),
- Top-level domain (indicating website category),
- Second-level domain (primary identification for the website),
- Subdomains (categorizing content or services) and
- Trailing dots (ensuring accurate website identification)
They are together helping to find the correct address of a computer or a host on the internet, i.e., for accurate online navigation.
Why use FQDN?
- Domain Name Resolution
Domain name resolution means decoding human-identifiable domain names into an IP address (language computers use to communicate).
With FQDN, you can break complex network structures (usually with large companies), making it easier for network devices to find the right destination.
- Allow you to have a Unique path for every resource
Your online presence can be more than just a website. For instance, you can hold an independent email server under the same domain name or link a different server so you can host an app or software.
- For getting an SSL certificate
This SSL certificate acts as security for online transactions, and to get an SSL certificate for your website, you need to have FQDN.
- It helps in getting organized.
With FQDN, you can be more organized by giving each part of your website with a tag or a completely different section.
When to use FQDN?
- For connecting remote host
Imagine you are at home working on your laptop, and you need some files from your office PC; as your laptop doesn’t know the exact location of your office PC and is also not connected to your office internet, it needs to find its IP address, i.e., unique identification number.
This job to connect is done by a particular server known as DNS(Domain Name System). All you need to do is provide the DNS server with the server’s full name, and the DNS server will find the corresponding IP address.
In simple words, the DNS server accurately identifies the correct IP address for the remote server, which helps you connect your laptop to an office PC.
Also, you can’t use part of the name. Fully qualified domain name FQDN example, you need to use example.com, or else you might confuse DNS. Therefore, FQDN Plays a crucial role when connecting to a server which is not from the same internet as yours.
- Migrating to a new server
A FQDN comes in really handy when you are migrating services to different servers. Using FQDN in place of an IP address helps as it quickly changes the DNS records, ensures that there are no communication gaps, and eliminates issues that happen while changing IP addresses.
- Accessing domain services
You can use FQDN when connecting to different services, for instance, email or FTP. You would just need the FQDN of a mail server and connect a domain name’s email to an email application on your phone.
Conclusion
FQDN has no limitation; not only can you connect it to the internet, but even on a PC and server, you can easily find the FQDN of the device you want based on which operating system you can get your system connected to.
