How domain registration actually works

When you register a domain, you are not buying it outright — you are taking out a lease from the registry for a fixed term (typically 1 to 10 years, depending on the TLD).

The chain looks like this:

1. The registry operates the top-level domain (Nominet for .uk, Verisign for .com, and so on) and holds the master database of who owns what.
2. The registrar (that's us) is accredited by the registry to sell and manage registrations on your behalf.
3. The registrant (that's you) is the legal holder of the name for the duration of the term.

When you place an order in the panel we send a registration request to the appropriate registry in real time. If the name is available it is created immediately and appears in your account, along with its expiry date. We also lodge your contact details in the registry and, where required, in the public WHOIS.

From that point the domain is yours to manage: set nameservers, add DNS records, enable WHOIS privacy where eligible, or lock it against transfer.