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Domain Name Extensions Guide
By admin | February 8, 2008
Every time I want to register new domain name, I am confused with all the possible extensions. I spent many hours exploring and learning, and the outcome is a mini series called Domain Name Extensions Guide.
In the following posts I will explain important things about domain extensions and throw you some useful tips. For the sake of easier reading I will use words TLD or extension in some cases.
What is a domain name extension?
Every domain name ends with Domain Name Extension or TLD, which is short for Top Level Domain. You probably know these extensions: .com, .net, .us, .uk, .jp.
Two types of TLDs
There are two types of Top Level Domains: Generic and Country Code
1. Generic Top Level Domains
Generic TLDs are used by specific class or organization. They are three or more letters long. Examples: .COM, .NET, .INFO, .NAME and others. First generic domain names were implemented in 1985, and made available to public 10 years later in 1995.
Because of enormous growth of registrations, there was a need for more extensions. New TLDs were added in 2001 and 2005. Majority of generic domain names can be registered without restrictions for a small annual fee.
2. Country code Top Level Domains
Country Code TLDs are used by particular country or territory. They are two letters long. Examples: .UK, .US, .DE, .TV, and others. There are over 240 country code extensions. Most extensions are used and managed by each country, while others have been commercialized and can be registered without restrictions. An interesting example is dot TV extension (.TV), which is branded for TV and media related sites, but originally being a country code for Tuvalu.
Mini Tip: How to distinguish country code from generic?
When you see a domain name, you can instantly tell which has a generic extension and which has a country code by length. Anything that is more than two letters long is generic (.DE - country code, .NAME - generic).
Next in this series we will examine Generic Domain Name Extensions.
Topics: Learn from scratch |
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