The .it Registry maintains the register of .it domain names and is managed by the Institute of Informatics and Telematics of the Italian National Research Council (CNR). It maintains the assignments database and defines technical and administrative rules for the Italian ccTLD. Registrants submit requests through accredited Registrars, who work directly with the Registry to manage names.
An A record is a DNS record linking a name, such as www.ildominio.it, to an IPv4 address. It normally directs a domain or subdomain to the server hosting the website. If the server address changes, update the record; during propagation, different users may temporarily reach the old or new address.
AuthInfo, also called an EPP code for some extensions, is the authorisation code associated with a domain. It demonstrates that the registrant authorises operations such as transfer to another Registrar. Request it from the provider managing the domain, keep it confidential and share it only with the new Registrar during the process.
A ccTLD, short for country code Top Level Domain, is an Internet extension assigned to a country or territory. For example, .it identifies Italy, .fr France and .de Germany. Each ccTLD has its own rules: registrant requirements and registration, transfer, renewal and recovery procedures may therefore vary between extensions.
A CNAME record creates a DNS alias between one name and another canonical name. A subdomain, for example, can point to a name assigned by an external platform without specifying its IP address directly. It is not a web redirect: the name remains visible in the browser. A CNAME normally cannot coexist with other DNS records at the same name.
DNS, the Domain Name System, translates readable names such as www.ildominio.it into addresses and services used by computers. Information is distributed in records, including A, MX, CNAME and TXT, published by the domain’s authoritative nameservers. After a change, Internet caches and resolvers may take time to receive the new values.
A domain is a unique name identifying an Internet presence, such as ildominio.it. It consists of a name and an extension, called a TLD. Registration gives the registrant the right to use it for a defined period, but does not automatically include a website, email or hosting: these are separate services that require separate configuration.
A domain transfer moves management of a name from one Registrar to another without changing the registrant, unless separately requested. It normally requires an AuthInfo or EPP code and may require additional confirmations. It does not automatically transfer the website, database or mailboxes: continuity also requires planning for hosting, email and DNS configuration.
FTP, File Transfer Protocol, transfers files between a computer and a server. In hosting, it can upload pages, images and scripts to web space. Where available, SFTP is preferable because it encrypts the connection and credentials. Access requires a server address, username, password and sometimes a specific port.
A gTLD, generic Top Level Domain, is a generic domain extension not directly linked to a single country. Common examples include .com, .net and .org, as well as newer extensions. Registration and transfer follow the relevant Registry rules and, for many gTLDs, ICANN policies applicable to accredited Registrars.
Hosting provides space and resources on a server to publish a website or application. Depending on the plan, it may include a control panel, databases, mailboxes, certificates and other tools. The domain identifies the address to visit; hosting stores and serves the content associated with that address.
HTTPS is the secure version of the protocol a browser uses to communicate with a website. It uses TLS to encrypt data in transit and verify the contacted domain’s identity through a certificate. It reduces the risk of interception and alteration of communications, but does not by itself guarantee trustworthy content, software or website owners.
ID Protect safeguards contact details associated with domain registration where the extension rules allow it. It replaces or limits public visibility of some information in Whois lookups. It does not make the registrant anonymous to Registrars and competent authorities, or change the obligation to provide accurate, up-to-date details.
An MX record identifies the servers receiving email for a domain. Each value has a priority: servers with lower numbers are contacted first. Configuring an MX does not create mailboxes or move existing messages; you must also set up the email service and keep other records required by the provider consistent.
MySQL is a system for organising and querying structured data, widely used by websites and web applications. WordPress, for example, stores posts, users and settings in it. The database is separate from website files and requires its own credentials. Backups and migrations must include both the files and an up-to-date database export.
A nameserver is an authoritative DNS server publishing a domain’s records. The extension Registry stores the delegated nameservers, while web addresses, email settings and verification records are configured within them. Changing nameservers can move all DNS management: recreate every required record before the change to avoid website and email interruptions.
Italian certified email (Posta Elettronica Certificata, PEC) generates receipts certifying that a message was sent and delivered. Transmission between PEC mailboxes provides legally enforceable guarantees about the message path, comparable to an Italian registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. To preserve its documentary value, archive the message, attachments and receipts generated by the providers.
The redemption period is a recovery phase that may follow the expiry and deletion of some domains. During this period, the name is normally unavailable for registration by others, but restoration may require a procedure and extra fees. Duration, statuses and conditions depend on the extension and its Registry: there is no identical rule for all TLDs.
A redirect, or forward, sends visitors from one web address to another URL. It can be temporary or permanent and is performed by the server or a dedicated service. It differs from a DNS record, which locates a service but does not tell the browser to load a new page. Email forwarding instead sends messages to another mailbox.
The registrant is the person, business or organisation assigned the right to use a domain. They provide the required details, accept the extension rules and are responsible for keeping the details accurate and up to date. They are not necessarily the technical contact, website developer or Registrar managing the registration.
A Registrar offers domain registration and management services to registrants and works with the Registry responsible for the extension. It handles registration, renewal, transfer and updates to details. It may also provide hosting or email, but those services remain separate from its administrative role in domain name management.
Renewal extends the right to use a domain for the period set by the extension. Complete it by the deadlines communicated by the provider, preferably early. If a domain expires, the website and email may stop working and recovery phases may begin, with differing rules, durations and costs. Eventually the name may become available again.
SPF, DKIM and DMARC help recipients verify the authenticity of a domain’s emails. SPF lists authorised sending servers, DKIM applies a cryptographic signature and DMARC defines checks, reports and handling of messages that fail authentication. Configure them together in DNS and on the email service to avoid unwanted rejection.
SSL is the historical name of the technology now replaced by TLS, the protocol protecting communications between browsers and servers. A TLS certificate associates a cryptographic key with a domain and enables HTTPS. The certificate must be valid, unexpired and match the visited name; encryption and certificates do not eliminate application vulnerabilities.
A subdomain is a name added before the main domain, such as assistenza.ildominio.it. It can identify a separate website, application or service while remaining under the same registered domain. It is created through DNS configuration and, where needed, hosting configuration. It does not require a new registration, but must be supported by the services it connects to.
A TLD, Top Level Domain, is the final part of a domain name, after the last dot. In ildominio.it the TLD is .it. Extensions can be national, such as ccTLDs, or generic, such as many gTLDs. Each TLD has its own Registry and may have different requirements, timescales, prices and procedures.
A TXT record publishes a text string in DNS. It is mainly used to verify control of a domain and configure email policies such as SPF, DKIM and DMARC. Copy the value exactly as required by the relevant service. Duplicate or syntactically incorrect records can prevent verification and compromise email delivery.
Whois refers to services for looking up information about a registered domain. Available data varies with the extension, Registry and data protection rules: much personal information may be hidden, while statuses, dates and technical references remain visible. Whois helps check domain availability and status, but does not by itself prove legal ownership.