What Exactly is a Domain Name?
A Domain name is a unique name that identifies a website on the internet. It is used to access a website by typing the domain name into a web browser’s address bar rather than the website’s IP address. Domain names consist of two parts: the top-level domain (TLD) and the second-level domain (SLD). The TLD is the suffix, such as .com, .org, or .edu, while the SLD is the name that appears before the TLD, such as example in example.com.
1. Generic Top-Level Domains
Generic top-level domains (gTLDs) are the most common type of top-level domains (TLDs) on the internet. They are not specific to any particular country or organization and can be registered by anyone. The most well-known examples of gTLDs are .com, .org, and .net.
There are also many new gTLDs that have been introduced in recent years, such as .info, .biz, .xyz and many others. These new gTLDs provide more options for businesses and individuals to find a unique and meaningful domain name for their website.
2. Country Code Top-level Domains
Country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) are specific to a particular country or territory and are two letters long. These domain names are usually administrated by the country’s government or a designated organization. They are intended for use by residents or organizations located in that country. Some examples of ccTLDs include .us (United States), .ca (Canada), .uk (United Kingdom), and .cn (China).
Each ccTLD has its own specific registration rules, but in general, they are only open to registrants who can demonstrate a connection to the country or territory. These rules can be different for each ccTLD, for example, .de (Germany) is open for registration for anyone, but .fr (France) is restricted for residents of France or French organizations.
3. New Generic Top-level Domains
New generic top-level domains (new gTLDs) are a recent addition to the internet’s domain name system. They are a expansion to the traditional set of gTLDs such as .com, .org, and .net. The introduction of new gTLDs was intended to increase competition and provide more choice for businesses and individuals looking for a unique domain name.
The process of introducing new gTLDs was carried out by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the organization responsible for managing the domain name system. The first round of new gTLDs were introduced in 2013, and many more rounds followed.
Examples of new gTLDs include .blog, .shop, .pp, .dev, .design, .tech, .marketing and many more. These new gTLDs are intended to be more relevant to specific industries, and to provide more meaningful and memorable domain names.
