subject: What Is Icann? [print this page] Every machine on the internet is assigned an identifying number called an IP address. Any time you access the information on the internet, your computer is pulling information from another machine. IP addresses look something like this: 216.29.61.136.
To make it easier for people to remember the location of a website, IP addresses are matched with domain names. It's much easier to remember a name like www.yahoo.com than it is to remember a series of 10 numbers. Without designated IP addresses and domain names, the internet would be unpredictable and useless. Imagine typing in the address of your favorite website and getting a new page every time. That's what would happen if we didn't have a well-organized way to keep track of machines on the internet. Each domain name and each IP address has to be unique, and the responsibility of keeping track of domain names and IP addresses falls on the shoulders of an organization called ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers).
The government used to be in charge of assigning domain names, but ICANN, which is a private, nonprofit organization, has taken over the responsibility. Founded in 1998, the service ICANN provides keeps the internet stable and interoperable. ICANN doesn't control content on the internet, but what they do ensures that the internet is consistent across the globe. ICANN also mediates disputes over domain names.
ICANN provides the world with a vital service by designating and organizing domain names and IP addresses. They also establish designations called "top-level domain names" like .com, .org, .gov, and .uk or .ca for specific countries and organizations. Any time you use the internet, you have ICANN to thank for the certainty you feel that you will reach the web destination you intend to and find what you need.
