We will now look at top level domain names and the type of domain names extensions.
All domain names have a suffix that indicates to us the type of domain name extension in use on that particular domain: One misconception that most people have is the tendency to associate any given domain name to a dot com. By the way, are ".com domain names extensions overrated?"
As you will see shortly,
There exists other type of top level domain names extensions. Those extensions are free to be put to use by anyone who chooses to do so. We will also see that the extension tends to convey an underlying meaning.
There are three categories of top level domain names, they're:
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Generic TLD
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Country TLD
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Infrastructure TLD
Get Ready For New Top Level Domain Names
Who knows what the next popular top level domain name will be? I CANN will allow people to register and manage new top level domain names. Will this serve people better?
Generic Top Level Domain Names Extension[gTLDs]
In theory Generic top level domain names extension were meant to be used by a particular group or class of organization. However, with passage of time no one really controls over who uses which extensions and for what purpose.
- .com for commercial business
- .org for Organizations or nonprofit
- .mil for Military
- .edu for Educational institutions
- .gov for Government agencies
- .net for Media services
Bear in mind that the list above is not an all exclusive list of all the domain names extensions. There are way many more others.
Country Top Level Domain Names extensions [ccTLDs]
Country top level domain names is a two-letter extension that is standardized by the International Standards Organization as ISO 3166.
Below are examples of some country code extension:
- ca: Canada
- de: Germany
- jp: Japan
- in: India
- uk: United Kingdom
Other countries also have their own extensions. Note also that, rules for registering ccTLDs differ from one country to another.
Some countries only allow their residents and organizations based within their territories to register such names while other countries are open to all nationalities across the board and also regardless of residence.
Infrastructure Top Level Domain Names [iTLDs]
Infrastructure top level domain (iTLDs) are special type of top level domain names extension that has limited use. You can read more about "the truth about domain names" and the type of domain name extensions and top level domain names here