The process of buying (registering) domain names has become a commodity business, with hundreds of companies in the domain name registration business (either as registrars in their own right, or as resellers of registrar services). If your interest lies in buying a domain name off a 3rd party, you'll want to read the guide to buying domain names.

There are several important things to bear in mind when registering a domain name.

You'll need access to two name servers, or at least the address of two name servers you are entitled to use. Name servers are the machines that translate a domain name into the underlying IP number. There's a fuller explanation of name servers in the Introduction to this guide. Most domain registration companies include name server access as part of their overall service - but a few charge extra, so be wary!

You must provide accurate contact information. It's common to come across domain names with false (or blank) ownership records. However, there is a gradual crackdown going on, with registrars tightening the rules surrounding the information contained in the Contact section of the domain name registration form.

I recommend that you use a "stable" email address when registering a domain name, rather than a free email account. If your email provider goes bankrupt or you somehow lose access to the email account you entered to register the name, you'll find it very difficult to make changes to the domain name or sell it to a 3rd party (most registrars rely on authenticating modification and transfer transactions by email)