Yes, registering a custom domain name requires paying a recurring fee to an accredited domain registrar, as you are purchasing the exclusive right to use that specific web address for a set period, typically ranging from one to ten years. Domain names are not sold as one-time permanent purchases; instead, they operate on a subscription model. If you fail to pay the periodic renewal fees before the expiration date, your registration lapses, the domain becomes inactive, and it eventually returns to the open market where anyone else can register it. While some web hosting providers offer a free domain name for the first year as a promotional incentive when you sign up for an extended hosting package, the standard renewal costs apply in subsequent years.