What Is A Top-Level-Domain? TLDs Explained With Examples @&1

At the top of this hierarchy is the root nameserver, represented by a single dot (.). This doesn't keep the IP address to match the domain name you're looking for, but it gives directions to where it can be found.

Once you request (search), the root nameserver identifies the domain's TLD and sends the DNS resolver to the correct TLD nameserver.

The TLD nameserver is responsible for managing information about the domains under its respective extensions. For example, .com, .net, .org. The TLD nameserver then informs the DNS resolver about the location of the matching IP address at a specific authoritative nameserver.

This is where all the information related to the domain name you're searching is stored. Once here, the DNS resolver obtains the IP address and sends it back to your computer, directing you to the website you searched for.

Generic top-level domains (gTLDs) are the most popular TLDs users find when they browse the internet. Anyone can register them, and they are called generic because of their history. They were created in the early development of the Domain Name System (DNS) back in the 80s and have remained active since.

Amongst this early group of TLDs are:

Although they were initially created with specific intentions in mind, all gTLDs are now unrestricted and can be registered by anyone.

Because the Internet is constantly evolving, some variations of gTLDs have sprung up. Since 2011, big companies have been allowed to apply for and register their own generic top-level domain names. This has given birth to websites having TLDs like .google, .apple, and .amazon.

In 2014, a new sub-genre was introduced, known as the geographic top-level domains (geoTLD). These allow websites to associate with a particular geographical, linguistic, or cultural community.

Despite their obvious ties to a particular region, geoTLDs are considered as gTLDs because of their unrestricted registration process. Some examples are .london (for London businesses), .asia (for Asia), and .cat (to highlight the Catalan language).

Then there are generic restricted top-level domains (grTLDs) which are like a locked-up version of gTLDs. To register one, you need to prove to the registrar that you are eligible to use them. Depending on the grTLD you want, the registrar will permit it so long as you satisfy certain criteria.

The most popular gTLD in the world is the .com TLD. Statistics also show that there are over 30 million generic top-level domains as of 2024.

A sponsored top-level domain typically represents professional, ethnic, or geographical communities. It mostly comprises government agencies, private agencies, and organizations that establish and enforce the criteria required to use the TLD.

Some popular examples are:

sTLDs provide information about websites in a related industry. When you come across a website with a .travel TLD, no one needs to tell you that it is related to the travel industry.

sTLDs also help users locate reliable and accurate official information quickly. For example, .edu and .gov are reserved for websites of U.S accredited schools and the U.S. government, respectively.

To register for one, you must apply to an ICANN-accredited registrar and fulfill the required conditions.

Country-code top-level domains are TLDs reserved for use by countries, sovereign states, and territories. They can be easily identified with a two-letter string and are not constrained to local businesses and individuals alone, but are also used by big organizations with independently operating regional websites.

ccTLDs help Google geotarget websites, so when you're searching from a particular region or country, you will get more accurate results. However, ccTLDs only work for countries and territories, not languages. So if you want to make your website multilingual, you will require a lot more.

Some of the most commonly seen ccTLDs include:

However, websites have found a clever way to use ccTLDs for branding purposes. For example, .io is being used in the tech industry even when it's officially meant for the British Indian Ocean Territory. According to the IANA database, there are currently 316 country code top-level domains.

Some top-level domains are TLDs reserved for local testing and development purposes. This means you cannot register them, but they can be used to freely test software changes without worrying about conflicts with other domain names.

According to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)  the body that defines standard operating internet protocols, tTLDs were specifically reserved to reduce the chances of confusion and clashes when conducting software tests.

The four main tTLDs are:

This is a peculiar category that contains only one TLD .arpa (address and routing parameter area). It was named after DARPA, the U.S. military organization that helped pioneer the modern Internet. ARPA was the first top-level domain ever to exist and is now used for infrastructural duties such as reverse DNS lookups.

To the Internet user, seeing a TLD they are familiar with adds a little bit of legitimacy, they feel at ease when on your website, which improves the number of visits your website gets. For example, a user is likely to trust a website domain name that ends with .com more, as opposed to one that ends with .loan.

With the threat of cybercrime more real than ever, getting a popular TLD for your website translates to credibility on the internet, you stand a chance of gaining more organic traffic when you stick with what users know.

Although Google has said having a custom TLD that includes keywords doesn't help SEO, having one helps your website's marketability. Imagine you own an educational institution, having a website domain name with a .edu TLD instantly grabs the attention of your prospective students.

When picking out a suitable TLD, you should consider your target audience and what their expectations are. For example, if your website is related to travel, having a domain name that ends with .travel will significantly improve your chances of reaching your target audience.

When it comes to TLDs, simplicity is key. Avoid the use of hyphens, numbers, and obscure names, rather stick to a simple TLD. Also, pay attention to the length of your domain name, shorter domains are easier to type and remember.

The newer types of TLDs look fun and all, but there's a reason why the .com, .net, and .org are still the most popular. Users feel more confident with a TLD they've known all their lives.

If your business serves a particular geographic area, you should consider using ccTLDs like .uk and .us to boost local SEO rankings and build trust with the audience in that region.

They say copying your neighbors is bad, but in the world of TLDs, it is a smart idea. You can save a lot of time and energy by taking a peek at what your competitors are using, since you're in the same industry, it'll work for your website too.

While checking out your competition, ensure your domain and TLD do not infringe on any trademarks or copyrights. You can save yourself the uncertainty by conducting a trademark search on it.

If you're working on a budget, take your time to research the available and affordable TLDs best suited to your business.

The TLD you eventually settle for should align with your overall brand. For example, if you own a tech startup, getting a .io or .ly TLD will be perfect for your business since it's the trending TLD used by tech and software companies.