What is a top level domain
A top-level domain (TLD) is the highest level of the domain name system (DNS) hierarchy. It is the last part of a domain name, located to the right of the dot (.) character. For example, in the domain name "example.com", ".com" is the top-level domain.
There are several types of top-level domains, including:
- Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs): These are domains that are not specific to a particular country or region, but are instead available for registration by anyone. Examples of gTLDs include.com,.net,.org,.biz, and.info.
- Country-Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs): These are domains that are specific to a particular country or region. Examples of ccTLDs include.us (United States),.uk (United Kingdom),.ca (Canada), and.au (Australia).
- Sponsored Top-Level Domains (sTLDs): These are domains that are sponsored by a specific organization or community. Examples of sTLDs include.aero (aviation),.asia (Asia-Pacific region), and.museum (museums).
- Infrastructure Top-Level Domains (iTLDs): These are domains that are used for infrastructure purposes, such as.arpa (Address and Routing Parameter Area) and.int (international organizations).
Top-level domains are managed by organizations known as domain name registries, which are responsible for maintaining the domain name database and ensuring that domain names are unique and valid. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the organization responsible for coordinating the global domain name system, including the management of top-level domains.
In recent years, ICANN has introduced new top-level domains, such as.app,.cloud, and.tech, to provide more options for domain name registration. This has led to a proliferation of top-level domains, with over 1,500 TLDs currently available.