What is ICANN?

Published: December 27, 2024

Ever wondered who keeps the internet running smoothly behind the scenes? When you type a web address into your browser, it’s not magic that gets you to the right website—it’s ICANN. ICANN, or the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, is a global organization that oversees and coordinates website registration. For domain name owners, businesses, and internet users alike, ICANN plays a crucial role in making sure the web remains functional and accessible. In this post, we’ll explore what ICANN is, what it does, and why it’s important to anyone who owns a domain name or uses the internet.


What is ICANN and what does it do?

ICANN is a nonprofit organization responsible for ensuring the smooth functioning of the internet’s naming and addressing systems. It basically manages the technical backbone of the internet. Founded in 1998, ICANN oversees the Domain Name System (DNS), which is what lets us access websites by using easy-to-remember domain names like catsthatcode.com or toomuchcoffee.net, instead of long numerical IP addresses. The big push behind creating this organization was to help establish and enforce internet and domain rules and policies.

ICANN has four important functions:

  1. Managing domain names: ICANN coordinates how domain names and TLDs (like .com and .org) are handed out to registrants (making sure two people don’t register the same domain).
  2. Assigning IP addresses: Every device and website on the internet is assigned a unique numerical “location” called an IP address. ICANN makes sure that there’s no duplication and that the internet can function as a global network. That way, when you type a URL into your internet browser, it knows where to direct you.
  3. Maintaining DNS security: ICANN works to keep the DNS secure and stable, preventing any disruptions that could make websites inaccessible.
  4. Overseeing the WHOIS database: ICANN maintains the DNS via the WHOIS database, and requires domain name owners to provide accurate contact information to WHOIS, which helps maintain transparency and accountability across the web.

While this list isn’t exhaustive, it’s clear that without ICANN, the internet would lack the organization and reliability we tend to take for granted. It’s the central authority that keeps the internet organized accessible and working properly for users worldwide.

How ICANN is organized and governed

ICANN’s decisions are shaped by input from a broad range of individuals and organizations—including governments, businesses, technical experts, and individual users. This practice makes sure that no one entity has complete control over how the internet functions, making ICANN a globally collaborative organization. There is a strong emphasis on transparency, which is why all ICANN meetings are open to the public and often live-streamed, allowing anyone to follow the discussions and decisions being made. Detailed records of decisions and financial reports are regularly published on the ICANN website to keep the organization accountable to the world-wide community.


ICANN, domain registries, and domain registrars

We said above that ICANN manages domain names and how they are distributed to people. More specifically, ICANN oversees the accreditation and general workings of domain name registrars.

So many domain names are registered and expire each year that it’s impossible for ICANN to manage this all on their own. To make this system work, ICANN authorizes independent registrars, like Epik, to handle domain registrations. These registrars are the public-facing entities that help internet users get domain names. Before they can get ICANN accreditation, registries have to meet strict guidelines and prove they are trustworthy and capable of managing sensitive customer information.

Registry vs. registrar: what’s the difference?

When you register a domain name with a registrar, your information is sent to a domain name registry. This back-end organization is responsible for maintaining the database of all registered domains for the specific TLD(s) they are in charge of. For example, Verisign is a major domain registry that manages some of the world’s most popular TLDs, including .com and .net. They maintain the authoritative database for these TLDs and work to support domain name owners under their umbrella. Registries make sure that domain names are unique and linked to the correct IP addresses, letting internet users access websites smoothly.

In short, ICANN, registries, and registrars work together so that domain names are secure and easy to register. Each entity plays an important role in the complex system that powers the web.


How ICANN impacts domain pricing

Even if you don’t realize it, as a domain name owner, ICANN’s policies shape much of your online experience. ICANN sets the rules that govern domain name registrations, which impacts everything from TLD pricing to the availability of certain domains.

ICANN establishes agreements with domain registries (which manage TLDs) and domain registrars (that provide domain names directly to the public). These agreements outline operational standards, technical requirements and, importantly, influence the costs associated with getting or renewing your domain. For example, ICANN allows registries to set wholesale prices for TLDs, which are then passed down to registrars, and then to domain owners. So, while ICANN doesn’t directly control the final price you pay when you register your domain, its policies help to keep competition and pricing transparent.

One of ICANN’s standout achievements has been introducing new top-level domains (TLDs). While familiar options like .com and .org are still widely used, ICANN’s expansion to include TLDs like .shop, .tech, and .ninja has created fresh branding opportunities for individuals and businesses. This expansion has been mostly positive, but it has added complexity to domain pricing. Some of the newer TLDs come with higher costs, either due to wholesale pricing set by registries or market demand. Even so, ICANN continues to focus on keeping prices fair and competitive.


Conclusion

You don’t have to fully understand all of this to register a domain name, but it definitely helps to know how the registration process works and why things might seem a bit complicated at times. Without ICANN’s oversight, the domain name market could quickly become chaotic, leading to issues like duplicate names, ownership disputes, or unpredictable pricing. ICANN’s governance provides the stability and structure necessary to keep the system functioning smoothly, making it easier for individuals and businesses to establish their online presence.

Frequently Asked Questions

A domain registry is an organization that manages the database of domain names for specific top-level domains (TLDs), like .com or .net. A domain registrar, on the other hand, is a company that allows you to buy and manage domain names through the registry.

ICANN has the power to revoke a domain name in certain situations, like if the domain violates its policies or terms of service. However, most issues related to domain disputes or ownership are handled by the registrars, not ICANN itself.

ICANN has expanded the number of available TLDs to provide more options for individuals and organizations. New websites are created every day, and there are only so many domains that can be created with a small number of TLDs. The current number of available domain extensions includes more than the traditional TLDs like .com and .org, giving us newer ones like .tech, .blog, and .ninja, allowing for more personalized and creative domain names.

Yes. If you want to file a complaint regarding an existing domain name, visit ICANN’s website and contact their Complaints Office. There are official complaint forms designed for different processes or requests.

ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is the organization responsible for overseeing the global Domain Name System (DNS), ensuring its stability and security, and managing the allocation of domain names and IP addresses. The DNS is the system that translates human-readable domain names (like sunburntbirds.com) into machine-readable IP addresses that computers can use. WHOIS is a database that provides publicly available information about domain name registrations, like the domain owner’s contact details and registration dates.

In short, ICANN governs the DNS, while the DNS makes domain names functional on the internet, and WHOIS provides public data about those domain registrations.