How to know the difference between a Registrar and a Registry

The role of a Registrar primarily involves interacting directly with the public and facilitating the registration process for domain names.

Registrars act as intermediaries, enabling individuals and organizations to acquire and manage their desired domain names. They provide services such as domain name search, registration, renewal, and transfer to the public arena.

On the other hand, a Registry plays a distinct role in the domain name ecosystem and they are crucial for maintaining the stability and functionality of the DNS infrastructure.

While Registrars interface with the public, Registries solely interact with Registrars and are responsible for managing the technical infrastructure that underpins the domain name system (DNS) and the delegation of IP addresses.

They maintain authoritative databases for specific TLDs, overseeing the registration data associated with domain names and their corresponding IP addresses.

Additional Information: 

Knowing the difference between a Registrar and a Registry can be confusing, especially for those new to domains and hosting.

A Registrar

A Registrar is a company, that is accredited by each Registry of the various TLDs and gTLDs, and interfacing between the general public and a Registry. These companies are responsible for ensuring that their domain owners comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

A Registrar may have multiple Resellers of domains, that will also follow and adhere to the Registry rulings.

A Registrar’s Accreditation

Registrars must be accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, also known as ICANN, which allows the company to register, renew, and transfer domain names, as well as manage the Domain Name System (DNS) records for those domain names.

A Registry

In contrast, a Registry only engages with a Registrar and is responsible for maintaining the master list of domain names, delegating IP addresses and other associated information. After a Registrar submits domain name information on behalf of a customer, the Registry will then upload this domain information onto a centralized database.

Domain Pricing & Rules

A Registry also sets the pricing and rules for domain names, manages the DNS, and ensures that all domain names are unique and valid.