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The [[Domain Name System|domain name system]] allows users to refer to websites and other Internet resources using names rather than the all-numeric IP addresses assigned to each computer on the Internet. Each domain name consists of a series of character strings separated by dots. The right-most string is the '''top-level domain (TLD)'''. Every TLD is managed by a single registry.
The [[Domain Name System|domain name system]] allows users to refer to websites and other Internet resources using names rather than the all-numeric IP addresses assigned to each computer on the Internet. Each domain name consists of a series of character strings separated by dots. The right-most string is the '''top-level domain (TLD)'''. Every TLD is managed by a single [[:Category:Registries|registry]].


A central part of [[IANA]]'s function is to establish baseline standards for eligible TLDs. These standards are largely unchanged since the inception of ICANN, and are based on Jon Postel's [[RFC 1591]].<ref>[https://www.iana.org/domains/root IANA.org - Root Zone Management]</ref> A central value of the Internet, and organizations dedicated to its maintenance, is the stability and security of the root zone; as a result, the policies and principles memorialized in RFC 1591 are largely followed today.<ref>See, for example, the Internet Society's [https://www.internetsociety.org/ianatimeline/ IANA Timeline], covering the development of the RFC in 1994, and the subsequent "New Registries and the Delegation of International Top Level Domains," drafted by Postel in 1996.</ref><ref name="rfc1591">[https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc1591 IETF.org - RFC 1591]</ref><ref name="iana01">[https://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-postel-iana-itld-admin-01 IETF.org - IANA-ITLD-Admin-01]</ref>
[[IANA]] currently lists the following eligible categories of TLDs:<ref>[https://www.iana.org/help/eligible-tlds IANA.org - Eligible TLD strings]</ref>
 
IANA currently lists the following eligible categories of TLDs:<ref>[https://www.iana.org/help/eligible-tlds IANA.org - Eligible TLD strings]</ref>
*Approved [[Generic Top Level Domain|generic TLDs]];
*Approved [[Generic Top Level Domain|generic TLDs]];
*Two-letter country codes based on the [[ISO 3166-1]] alpha-two code ([[ccTLD|country code top level domains]]);
*Two-letter country codes based on the [[ISO 3166-1]] alpha-two code ([[ccTLD|country code top level domains]]);
*[[IDN Fast Track]] approved strings;
*[[IDN Fast Track]] approved strings;
*Strings eligible under under ICANN Board Resolution 00.74 (currently this category applies to only one domain, .eu);<ref>[https://features.icann.org/2000-09-25-delegation-cctlds ICANN - Board Resolution on the Delegation of ccTLDs]</ref>
*Strings eligible under ICANN Board Resolution 00.74 (currently this category applies to only one domain, .eu);<ref>[https://features.icann.org/2000-09-25-delegation-cctlds ICANN - Board Resolution on the Delegation of ccTLDs]</ref>
*"Grandfathered" TLDs from prior to 2000, based on "exceptionally reserved" codes in the ISO 3166-1 standard (this category currently applies to two TLDs - .uk and .ac);
*"Grandfathered" TLDs from prior to 2000, based on "exceptionally reserved" codes in the ISO 3166-1 standard (this category currently applies to two TLDs - .uk and .ac);
*Infrastructure domain (.ARPA); and
*Infrastructure domain (.ARPA); and
*Test domains, per ICANN Board Resolution 07.47 (eleven such domains have been delegated thus far)<ref>[https://www.icann.org/resources/board-material/resolutions-2007-06-29-en ICANN.org - Board Resolutions Adopted June 29, 2006]</ref>
 




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| November 3, 1988 || [[.int]]  || Limited; sponsored || For organizations, offices, and programs endorsed by a treaty between two or more nations || In response to a request by NATO
| November 3, 1988 || [[.int]]  || Limited; sponsored || For organizations, offices, and programs endorsed by a treaty between two or more nations || In response to a request by NATO
|-
|-
| 1998 || -- || -- || -- || Domain deregulation; [[ICANN]] is formed to oversee Internet names and numbers
|-
|-
| May 2000 || [[.arpa]] || Limited; sponsored || All Internet infrastructure databases || one of the original TLDs, .arpa was re-designated at this time as an Address and Routing Parameter Area, critical to maintaining the [[SSR| stability of the Internet]]
| March 1994 || || || || [[Jon Postel]]'s [[RFC 1591]] establishes the baseline standards for eligible TLDs.
|-
| 1996 || || || || Jon Postel drafts "New Registries and the Delegation of International Top Level Domains"
|-
| 1998 || || || || Domain deregulation; [[ICANN]] is formed to oversee Internet names and numbers
|-
| May 2000 || [[.arpa]] || Limited; sponsored || All Internet infrastructure databases || one of the original TLDs, .arpa is re-designated at this time as an Address and Routing Parameter Area, critical to maintaining the [[SSR| stability of the Internet]]
|-
|-
| November 16, 2000 || [[.aero]], [[.biz]], [[.coop]], [[.info]], [[.museum]], [[.name]], [[.pro]] || Sponsored gTLDs ||  ||  
| November 16, 2000 || [[.aero]], [[.biz]], [[.coop]], [[.info]], [[.museum]], [[.name]], [[.pro]] || Sponsored gTLDs ||  ||  
|-
|-
| 2005-2007 || [[.cat]], [[.eu]], [[.asia]]|| Sponsored [[geoTLD|specifically for a cultural, ethnic, or regional group]] || Represents Catalan language and culture, the countries in the European Union, and the Asian continent, respectively || The first TLDs to denote geographical, geopolitical, ethnic, social, or cultural representation
| June 29, 2006 || || Test domains || per [[ICANN Board]] Resolution 07.47 || eleven such domains have been delegated thus far
|-
|-
| 2007 || [[.cat]], [[.eu]], [[.asia]]|| Sponsored [[geoTLD|specifically for a cultural, ethnic, or regional group]] || Represents Catalan language and culture, the countries in the European Union, and the Asian continent, respectively || The first TLDs to denote geographical, geopolitical, ethnic, social, or cultural representation
|-
| October 30, 2009 || || || || [[IDN ccTLD]] [[IDN Fast Track|Fast Track Process]] is approved by the [[ICANN Board]]
|-
| || [[.jobs]], [[.mobi]], [[.tel]], [[.travel]] || limited to entities having something to do with the phrase comprising the TLD in question ||  
| || [[.jobs]], [[.mobi]], [[.tel]], [[.travel]] || limited to entities having something to do with the phrase comprising the TLD in question ||  
|-
|May 5, 2010 || [[مصر]] [[السعودية]] [[امارات]] || [[IDN ccTLD]]s || From right to left, for Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates || For the first time in the history of the Internet, non-Latin characters are being used for top-level domains
|-
|-
| April 2011 || [[.xxx]] || Sponsored gTLD ||  || [[ICM Registry]] had submitted proposals for this sTLD for pornographic sites since 2000  
| April 2011 || [[.xxx]] || Sponsored gTLD ||  || [[ICM Registry]] had submitted proposals for this sTLD for pornographic sites since 2000  

Revision as of 16:35, 19 March 2021

The domain name system allows users to refer to websites and other Internet resources using names rather than the all-numeric IP addresses assigned to each computer on the Internet. Each domain name consists of a series of character strings separated by dots. The right-most string is the top-level domain (TLD). Every TLD is managed by a single registry.

IANA currently lists the following eligible categories of TLDs:[1]

  • Approved generic TLDs;
  • Two-letter country codes based on the ISO 3166-1 alpha-two code (country code top level domains);
  • IDN Fast Track approved strings;
  • Strings eligible under ICANN Board Resolution 00.74 (currently this category applies to only one domain, .eu);[2]
  • "Grandfathered" TLDs from prior to 2000, based on "exceptionally reserved" codes in the ISO 3166-1 standard (this category currently applies to two TLDs - .uk and .ac);
  • Infrastructure domain (.ARPA); and


TLD Growth - Overview from 1983 to 2021[edit | edit source]

Dates TLDs Use Reason Significance
1983 .no country code TLD Restricted to use by entities in Norway The first ccTLD
October 1984 .com, .net, .org Open Any person or entity is permitted to register a domain name using these TLDs The first gTLDs
October 1984 .edu, .gov, .mil Limited; an entity has sponsored the operation of this TLD For higher educational institutions, United States governmental entities and agencies, and divisions, services and agencies of the United States Department of Defense, respectively The first gTLDs
1985 .us, .uk .il ccTLDs USA, UK, Israel The second, third, and fourth ccTLDs
1986 .au, .de, .fi, .fr, .is, .kr, .nl, .se ccTLDs Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, South Korea, Netherlands, Sweden The next eight ccTLDs
November 3, 1988 .int Limited; sponsored For organizations, offices, and programs endorsed by a treaty between two or more nations In response to a request by NATO
March 1994 Jon Postel's RFC 1591 establishes the baseline standards for eligible TLDs.
1996 Jon Postel drafts "New Registries and the Delegation of International Top Level Domains"
1998 Domain deregulation; ICANN is formed to oversee Internet names and numbers
May 2000 .arpa Limited; sponsored All Internet infrastructure databases one of the original TLDs, .arpa is re-designated at this time as an Address and Routing Parameter Area, critical to maintaining the stability of the Internet
November 16, 2000 .aero, .biz, .coop, .info, .museum, .name, .pro Sponsored gTLDs
June 29, 2006 Test domains per ICANN Board Resolution 07.47 eleven such domains have been delegated thus far
2007 .cat, .eu, .asia Sponsored specifically for a cultural, ethnic, or regional group Represents Catalan language and culture, the countries in the European Union, and the Asian continent, respectively The first TLDs to denote geographical, geopolitical, ethnic, social, or cultural representation
October 30, 2009 IDN ccTLD Fast Track Process is approved by the ICANN Board
.jobs, .mobi, .tel, .travel limited to entities having something to do with the phrase comprising the TLD in question
May 5, 2010 مصر السعودية امارات IDN ccTLDs From right to left, for Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates For the first time in the history of the Internet, non-Latin characters are being used for top-level domains
April 2011 .xxx Sponsored gTLD ICM Registry had submitted proposals for this sTLD for pornographic sites since 2000
June 20, 2011 ICANN Board votes to dramatically increase the number of gTLDs from the 22 already in operation
January 12, 2012 community or standard applicant decides if the nTLD is for a defined community consisting of a restricted population; the distinction between sponsored/unsponsored TLDs is deemed irrelevant to this round of nTLDs The application window for All New gTLD Applications opens
June 13, 2012 -- -- -- Reveal Day: 1,930 applications for new gTLDs submitted; 751 of which were contested
July 15, 2013 .сайт, .онлайн, .شبكة, .游戏 -- -- First four IDN nTLD aggreements signed
November 9, 2014 -- -- -- 400th gTLD was delegated
20 May 2017 ccTLDs -- -- 255 ccTLDs delegated
June 2020 IDN ccTLDs -- -- 61 IDN ccTLDs approved
March 2021 -- -- -- IANA lists 1589 TLDs (1503 in use, 67 not assigned/revoked, 8 retired, 11 test domains)

Varieties of TLDs[edit | edit source]

There are different types of TLDs.

gTLDs[edit | edit source]

  • brand TLDs - corporations use their corporate name as their website's top-level identifier instead of .com or .biz domain space
  • community TLDs relate to local events, gatherings, or organizations.
  • geoTLDs represent geographical or regional areas that are not countries with three or more ASCII characters.
  • hSTLDs
  • nTLDs - domains that were introduced beginning in October 2013
  • sTLDs - has a sponsor for a specific purpose, such as to represent a specific ethnic community, professional group, or geographical location.

ccTLDs[edit | edit source]

Country-code TLDs are delegated to a designated ccTLD registry, which is operated by a ccTLD Manager, according to local policies that are adapted to meet the economic, cultural, linguistic, and legal circumstances of the country or territory involved.

TLDs with two ASCII characters have been established for over 250 countries and external territories.
TLDs with non-ASCII characters designated for a country or geographic region.

Operating Mode[edit | edit source]

TLDs operate in different manners but can be categorized in some simple ways:

  • Open - Operating and offering both registration and resolution services.
  • Closed - Not accepting registrations, may be resolving evergreen/legacy/infrastructure subdomains.

Level of Restriction[edit | edit source]

  • Unrestricted - If there are no requirements that must be met in order to register a name under a TLD, that TLD is Unrestricted.
  • Restricted - Requiring Local Physical Address, Local Tax ID, or other specific criteria to qualify.

Reserved Names[edit | edit source]

  • country code top-level domains
  • related to ICANN
  • related to IANA functions
  • names of countries and territories
  • names of international and intergovernmental organizations
  • names that a registry operator uses to operate the gTLD
  1. ↑ IANA.org - Eligible TLD strings
  2. ↑ ICANN - Board Resolution on the Delegation of ccTLDs
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