What is a registry?

A Registry (or Registry Operator) is the company that maintains a database of all domain names registered under a given top-level domain (TLD) such as .com, .design, .dentist, etc. Some notable registries include Identity Digital, XYZ, PIR, and Verisign.

Registries differ from registrars (such as Porkbun, GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.) in that they do not typically sell domain names directly to the public. Instead, they are responsible for:

  • Maintaining the database of available and registered domains
  • Managing wholesale pricing of domains
  • Marketing their portfolio of domain extensions (TLDs)
  • Complying with ICANN regulations

Registries are also required to run special DNS servers to host certain records such as "glue" records, and the NS records that designate the authoritative nameservers for a domain.

In short, registries are the companies that operate domain extensions, while registrars (such as Porkbun) are the companies that sell those domains to you and give you the tools to manage them. For more information, check out our video explanation below.

Registries, registrars, and web hosts explained


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