How to use the domain availability checker
- Type a domain name into the box — with or without www, with or without https://. The tool cleans it up for you.
- Press Check (or hit Enter on your keyboard).
- Read the result: "Available" means the domain is free to register; "Registered" means someone already owns it.
- If it is taken, try another ending like .net or .org, or adjust the name and check again.
How domain availability checks work
Every domain name lives in a central registry that tracks who owns it and when it expires. When you check a name, the lookup queries that registry's records and reports whether the name is already assigned. A name can be "registered" even when no website is live on it — the owner may be holding it for later, parking it for advertising, or using it only for email.
That is why a domain can look empty in your browser yet still come back as registered. Availability is about ownership, not about whether a site is currently online. This tool reports exactly that ownership status so you know whether a name is genuinely open for registration.
What to do when your domain is taken
A taken name is rarely the end of the road. Try a different top-level domain: if example.com is gone, example.net, example.co or example.io may still be free. You can also add a short descriptive word ("get", "try", "my", "app") to the front, or combine your brand with what you do — "acmestudio.com" instead of "acme.com".
If you are set on an exact name that is already registered, you can check whether it is listed for sale on a marketplace, or watch for it to expire. Be careful not to build a brand around a domain you do not actually control — secure the name first, then build on it.
Tips for choosing a good domain
A strong domain is short, easy to spell, and easy to say out loud. Prefer .com when you can, since people default to it, but a good .io or .co is better than a clumsy .com. Avoid hyphens and numbers, which get mistyped and misheard. Say the name aloud: if you have to spell it or explain it, keep searching. Finally, check the name here before you commit so you know it is actually yours to take.