A domain name is a unique identification string which defines a particular realm of authority, autonomy or control over the Internet. Domain names are generally used for program-specific addressing and naming purposes and in many networking contexts. A website or an Internet service generally uses a domain name to provide users with a convenient way to access the Internet service or to specify a specific server on the network for communication or storage purposes. Domain names can also be specified by the customer when they request to connect to a particular server or to obtain an online status report.