What is the difference between a domain registry and a registrar?
Every domain name is connected to two different parties: the registry and the registrar.
The registry is the authority that operates and manages a specific domain extension (TLD). It maintains the central database for that extension, runs its core technical infrastructure, and enforces its policies and rules.
- Maintain the master database: They store the authoritative list of domains registered under their TLD.
- Operate the TLD’s DNS servers: These servers tell the Internet where to find each domain.
- Enforce TLD-specific rules: Every TLD has policies, such as who can register or what verification is required.
The registrar is the accredited company through which customers register, renew, transfer, and manage domain names. While registries maintain the infrastructure, domain registrars handle the customer-facing side of the business.
- Processing domain registrations, renewals, and transfers.
- Managing WHOIS contact data and privacy options.
- Offering DNS management and hosting integrations.
- Providing support for technical issues.
In simple terms:
- Registry = manages the extension itself
- Registrar = provides domain services to customers
This distinction is especially important for ccTLDs (country-code domain extensions) such as .cc, .rs, .fr, .gr, .ax, or .st. For these extensions, the highest authority always rests with the relevant registry operator, not with the registrar.
