As technology advances, the way we view and manage domain names is changing rapidly. The established Domain Name System (DNS) faces a promising contender: Web3 Domains. In this article, we'll explore the differences and highlight how 3DNS provides a registrar that bridges both while ensuring ICANN compliance.

Traditional DNS— The Central Compass of the Internet

The internet mainly relies on DNS. Think of it as a phone book that turns domain names, such as "example.com", into IP addresses. It acts like a phone book, translating user-friendly domain names such as "example.com" into IP addresses like 192.0.2.146 which are machine readable. This translation facilitates users in effortlessly navigating to websites without having to remember complex IP addresses.

Key Features of DNS

1. The DNS structure is centrally managed by domain registries under the umbrella of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). ICANN coordinates these domain names across the world, ensuring a stable and secure internet.

2. Given its centralized architecture, DNS is susceptible to various threats. These include DDoS attacks, DNS spoofing, and censorship from centralized authorities. It's also prone to human errors within the managing entities, which can lead to widespread disruptions.

3. Despite its vulnerabilities, DNS has been a reliable tool for global web navigation for decades. It ensures that domain names are unique and consistent across the globe, providing a standardized way for internet users to access websites.

4. Users have less control over their data, and privacy can be compromised.

Enter Web3 Domains—The New Kid on the Block

Web3 domains offer a range of advantages driven by their foundational blockchain technology, highlighting a paradigm shift from the traditional DNS system.

Advantages of Web3 Domains

1. Web3 domains operate on decentralized blockchain networks, eliminating single points of control or failure. This decentralization creates a less restrictive domain management system compared to traditional DNS.

2. Due to their decentralized nature, Web3 domains are much more resilient to censorship and control, ensuring the freedom of expression and information sharing.

3. These domains can be treated as assets, allowing for instant selling, trading, or integration with smart contracts. This asset-like nature stems from blockchain's inherent property of verifiable ownership.

4. Web3 domains promote data sovereignty and better privacy as users have direct control over their domain data. This decentralized control is crucial for improved privacy and data management, allowing users to have full authority over who gets access to their data and how it's distributed.

3DNS The Bridge between Traditional and Modern Domains

3DNS is a platform that blends the best of both traditional DNS and modern Web3 domains. Here is how:

1. Dual-System Approach

3DNS combines the usual DNS process with the benefits of Web3. It starts with an offchain domain registration, followed by creating an onchain token representing the domain.

2. ICANN Compliance

Unlike many Web3 domain services, 3DNS follows ICANN's standards, making it globally recognized.

3. Trustless and Transparent Domain Management

All domain names through 3DNS are stored and managed onchain as NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens). Every domain transfer and DNS record change is logged directly onchain, ensuring secure and privacy focused domain management..

4. Composable Domain Names

Domain names are stored and managed via an ERC-721 compliant smart contract, making them compatible with any protocol that supports NFTs. This setup promotes a developer friendly experience.

5. Domain Names as DID Profiles

3DNS domain names also act as Decentralized Identifier (DID) profiles, allowing users to set primary addresses to receive assets to their domain names.

6. Enhanced Security

With its structure, 3DNS provides better protection against many common issues found in traditional DNS platforms. Domain names and DNS records are all stored publicly onchain, meaning you don’t have to trust centralized authorities to get the correct DNS records.

Traditional DNS has been reliable but comes with challenges like centralization, making it prone to censorship and attacks. On the other hand, Web3 domains offer a more secure, decentralized setup.

Notable platforms like Ethereum Name Service (ENS) and Handshake have made strides, but their lack of ICANN compliance limits mainstream adoption.

3DNS steps in as a solution that blends the old with the new, offering a secure, decentralized, yet globally recognized domain system.

Traditional DNS combined with Web3 domains makes domain names both decentralized and universally accessible. As domain registration changes, 3DNS shows how traditional DNS can blend with new blockchain Web3 tech, pointing to a future where domain systems are both globally accepted and more securely decentralized.