Generic Top-Level Domains
Generic Top-Level Domains or gTLDs are likely the most familiar to people. These are the domains that end in three-letter domains like .com, .net, and .gov.
What is a Generic TLD?
First let’s describe a TLD or Top-Level Domain. A domain name is a hierarchical name in the domain name system (DNS) given to a destination usually reachable over the public internet, though domain names are also used in private networks. Domains are hierarchical, and the top-level domain is just that, the highest level of that domain. Top-Level domains are maintained by IANA, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, which is a part of ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers.
Originally there were only a few TLDs. These were:
Domain | Original Use |
|---|---|
.com | Commercial entities |
.net | Network Infrastructure |
edu | Education Institutions |
.org | Organizations, non-profit usually |
.gov | Government entities |
.mil | .mil |
Example of non-sponsored gTLDs
Non-sponsored gTLDs are monitored and managed centrally by ICANN as mentioned above. These include the more common TLDs mentioned above such as .com and .net.
gTLDs vs. ccTLDs
Generic TLDs can be either sponsored or non-sponsored as discussed above. Another kind of specialized TLD which represents a country. Most countries will have their own ccTLD. Recently a new kind of ccTLD has also been created which is an Internationalized TLD. These include native language characters.
Examples of ccTLDs:
TLD | Country |
|---|---|
.is | Iceland |
.jp | Japan |
.mx | Mexico |
.uk | United Kingdom |
.us | United States |
Top new generic top-level domains
As mentioned there are now over 1500 gTLDs. Though this is subject to change, the most used as of 2021 are:
- xyz
- online
- top
- site
- shop
- club
- vip
- store
- app