A domain registrar is an ICANN-accredited organization authorized to register and manage domain names for customers. It sits between the registrant (domain buyer) and the registry (the authoritative database operator for a TLD like Verisign for .com), acting as the intermediary to create, renew, transfer, and delete domain records.
Registrars communicate with registries using the Extensible Provisioning Protocol (EPP) to write domain data to the official zone file. They also collect and maintain WHOIS registration information, assign nameservers, enforce ICANN transfer policies, and often provide DNS management tools. The registry holds the canonical zone database; only the registrar managing a domain can update it.
Examples of registrars include GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Cloudflare Registrar, all of which are accredited for gTLDs like .com, .net, and .org. Country-code registries (like .uk or .de) have their own accredited registrars.
Domain Transfer
Moving a domain between registrars requires the domain to be unlocked and an Auth-Info code (EPP transfer code) from your current registrar. ICANN policy blocks transfers within 60 days of initial registration or a prior transfer.
WarningRegistrar ≠ Registry ≠ Hosting: buying a domain from a registrar does not automatically include web hosting, email hosting, or DNS hosting. These are separate services, though often bundled.
For domain ownership verification, check WHOIS data via your registrar's control panel or a WHOIS lookup tool.