Ancestry.com provides online genealogy services that allow anyone to trace their family history and connect with relatives they didn’t know existed. In order to gain full access to the site, a paid membership is required. Membership allows access to various types of historical information such as birth, death, marriage, and immigration records. The site also provides a series of genealogy tools designed to help members organize and uncover family information.

The interactive Family Tree, accessed from any page by clicking the ‘Family Tree’ link, allows members to add family photos, audio clips, stories, and to interact with family members. This feature is also available free to registered guests. A visitor may become a registered guest by clicking the ‘Subscribe’ or ‘Sign up now’ links, clicking the ‘Continue’ button, and entering their name and email. If the visitor navigates away from the page, they will be considered a registered guest; the visitor can continue their registration at any time. Visitors can also click on the ‘Community’ link followed by the ‘Create Your Free Profile’ link for free registration.

The MyCanvas printing service, accessed by clicking the ‘Print & Share’ link, allows members to organize their photos into photo albums and calendars that once customized can be purchased and mailed to them. The DNA tool, accessed by clicking the ‘DNA’ link, lets members purchase a cheek swab DNA test that provides a detailed ancestral report as well as a certificate displaying their DNA results, an ancient ancestral migration map, and ancestral Haplogroup name. This DNA information will also be added to the website’s secure database so members can be notified whenever there is a DNA match with other members, allowing them to uncover new relatives all over the world.

The ‘Community’ area lets members interact with each other and post questions and information requests about relatives; the ‘Learning Center’ area provides guides and tutorials on using the site; and the ‘Store’ area allows members to purchase books, photos, maps, software, and services such as public record searches, and online courses.

Ancestry.com boasts millions of names on file and tens of thousands of records available for anyone wanting to learn more about their family history and is a popular genealogy website in the United States.