What is a web address (domain) and how does it work in Mia OS?

What exactly is a web address?

A web address, also called a domain or domain name, is what someone types into a browser to reach your app or website. Think of something like `mybusiness.com` or `bookingsystem.com`.

Behind that address sits a whole system that makes sure visitors end up in the right place. You do not need to understand or manage that system. It simply works, the way electricity comes out of the socket without you knowing how it is generated.

A web address has two parts:
- The subdomain (the part before the dot, such as `www` or `app`)
- The domain name itself (the recognisable part, such as `mybusiness.com`)

How does your app get an address in Mia OS?

As soon as Mia OS builds an app for you and puts it online, that app automatically gets a working web address. You do not have to set anything up. It happens in the background while you focus on what you want to achieve.

The address works straight away. You can share it with colleagues, customers or users right away. There is no waiting period of days or weeks.

The automatically assigned address is functional and secure, but it looks technical. If you want something that suits your brand or business better, the next step is connecting your own domain name.

Connecting your own domain name

Your own domain name, such as `mybusiness.com`, gives your app a professional look and is easier for visitors to remember. You can register a name like this through a domain registrar, a company that rents out domain names.

Once registered, you connect the domain to your Mia app. That sounds technical, but in practice it comes down to a small change in your domain name's settings, and Mia OS shows you exactly what to do, step by step.

Once connected, your app is reachable at your own address. Visitors see no sign that the app was built with Mia OS. It is, and stays, your brand.

Security: the padlock in the browser

You have probably seen a green padlock in your browser's address bar. That padlock means the connection between the visitor and your app is encrypted, so nobody can read along.

Technically, this is called an SSL certificate. Mia OS sets it up automatically, both for the temporary address and for any domain name of your own that you connect. You do not need to do anything or pay extra for it.

An app without that padlock makes visitors wary and also ranks lower in search engines. With Mia OS, this is in order as standard.

What if you have several apps?

If you build several apps with Mia OS, say a client portal, an internal tool and a booking system, each app gets its own web address. You can put them all under the same main domain if you like:
- `clients.mybusiness.com`
- `planning.mybusiness.com`
- `bookings.mybusiness.com`

This is called working with subdomains. It looks tidy and helps visitors and staff find the right place. Connecting them follows the same simple steps as a regular domain.