A domain name is often used to identify the source of information on a website so that, in effect, the domain name is being used as a trade name or trademark. The owner of the domain name can therefore develop certain legal rights in the domain name, and the domain name may become capable of protection as a registered trademark (with or without the .com or another suffix).

Nominet UK, the body responsible for the allocation and registration of .uk domain names, runs a “first come, first served” procedure. A domain name will be allocated to the first person to apply for its registration.

This website has a list of accredited UK domain name registrars.

These registrars all have an availability checker, where you can type in your chosen website name and it will tell you whether it is available and suggest alternatives if it isn’t. The cost of registering a domain name may be different depending on which provider you register with, so you may want to look at several different options.

Domain names can last forever once registered, as long as the owner pays the annual renewal fee to the registrar.

Examples of accredited registrars are names.co.uk and godaddy. Before you purchase a domain name it is best practice to compare prices on different accredited registrars.

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