What organization is responsible for registering domain names?

The organization responsible for registering domain names is known as ICANN, which stands for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. ICANN plays a crucial role in maintaining the stability and security of the internet's unique identifiers, which include domain names and IP addresses. It oversees the domain name system (DNS) and coordinates the allocation of top-level domains (TLDs) such as .com, .org, and .net.

ICANN acts as a regulatory body that manages the registrars—organizations that are authorized to sell domain names to the public—ensuring that the registration process is standardized and that domain names are unique and not duplicated across the internet. This is essential for preventing conflicts and ensuring users can reliably access websites using their domain names.

Understanding ICANN's role highlights how domain names are structured and managed, which is vital knowledge for anyone involved in IT support, web development, or network management.