What is a top-level domain? How many categories are there of top-level domains?
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Top-Level Domain (TLD) is the highest level in the domain name system, used to identify the category or geographic location of a domain name.
Top-level domain names are mainly divided into the following categories:
1. Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs)
Generic top-level domain names are the most common type of domain names and are available for anyone to register. They usually have no specific geographical restrictions or industry requirements.
Common generic top-level domain names include:
.com (commercial)
.net (network)
.org (organization)
.info (information)
.biz (commercial)
.name (personal)
In recent years, the Internet Association (ICANN) has also introduced a large number of new generic top-level domain names (New gTLDs), such as:
.tech (technology)
.xyz (general)
.shop (shopping)
.app (application)
.blog (blog)
2. Country and region top-level domain names (ccTLDs)
Country and region top-level domain names are used to identify domain names for specific countries or regions. These domain names usually consist of two letters, representing a specific country or region.
For example:
.us (United States)
.cn (China)
.uk (United Kingdom)
.jp (Japan)
.de (Germany)
.fr (France)
3. Infrastructure TLDs
Infrastructure TLDs are usually managed by Internet infrastructure for specific technical or service purposes.
The most famous infrastructure TLDs are:
.arpa: used for Internet infrastructure and technology-related services such as the Domain Name System (DNS) and reverse domain name resolution.
4. Sponsored TLDs (sTLDs)
Sponsored TLDs are managed and operated by specific organizations or groups, usually serving specific industries or interest groups. These domains usually need to meet specific registration requirements or conditions.
For example:
.edu (educational institutions, managed by the Department of Education)
.gov (government agencies, managed by the U.S. government)
.mil (military agencies, managed by the U.S. military)
.coop (cooperatives)
.aero (aviation industry)
5. Brand TLDs
Brand TLDs are domain names registered for a specific brand or business and are usually managed by the brand owner. They help brands create a unique online presence.
Some examples of brand TLDs include:
.google (Google)
.apple (Apple)
.bmw (BMW)
6. Geographic TLDs
Geographic TLDs are used to represent specific geographic areas, such as cities, states, or countries. These domains can help local organizations, businesses, and communities establish a localized presence on the Internet.
For example:
.nyc (New York City)
.london (London)
.bayern (Bavaria, Germany)
These categories help organizations and individuals choose the top-level domain that best suits their needs and build a web address that matches their identity or business.
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