Domain Naming Services

DIS plays a role in state domain naming, ensuring that Internet users can easily locate and use state Web sites and digital government services. DIS led a multi-agency group in creating statewide standards for Internet top-level, sub-domain, and host domains within the wa.gov and state.wa.us state domains.

Originally put in place in 1983, the Internet's Domain Name System (DNS) is a database that maps domain and host names to Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. Most Internet services rely on DNS to locate Web sites and successfully deliver e-mail.

Washington State’s Domain and Host Naming Standards are designed to provide:

* users with domain and host names that clearly indicate the legitimacy and authority of government Web applications, services, and information.
* agency domain administrators with clear written naming standards to follow when requesting Internet domain and host names, and
* the DIS state Internet domain administrator with standards from which decisions can be made regarding requests for Internet domain and host names and naming structures

To support state agencies in following the state standards and applying for domain names, DIS offers a fully developed resource Web site with DNS best practices, resources and instructions for requesting domain names.