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− | 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 its top-level domain (TLD), and every TLD is managed by a single registry. | + | The '''top-level domain (TLD)''' is the right-most string, or series of characters, in every [[URL|web address]]. 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. Every TLD is managed by a single [[:Category:Registries|registry]]. |
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− | ==Overview from 1983 to 2021== | + | ==TLD Growth - Overview from 1983 to 2021== |
| {| class="wikitable" | | {| class="wikitable" |
| ! Dates !! TLDs !! Use !! Reason !! Significance | | ! Dates !! TLDs !! Use !! Reason !! Significance |
| |- | | |- |
− | | 1983 || [[.no]] || [[ccTLD]] || Norway || The first ccTLD | + | | 1983 || [[.no]] || [[ccTLD|country code TLD]] || Restricted to use by entities in Norway || The first two-letter country code based on the [[ISO 3166-1]] |
| |- | | |- |
− | | October 1984 || [[.com]], [[.net]], [[.org]] || Open || Any person or entity is permitted to register || The first [[gTLD]]s | + | | October 1984 || [[.com]], [[.net]], [[.org]] || Open || Any person or entity is permitted to register a domain name using these TLDs|| The first [[gTLD]]s |
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− | | October 1984 || [[.edu]], [[.gov]], [[.mil]] || Limited; [[sTLD|sponsored]] || 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 [[gTLD]]s | + | | October 1984 || [[.edu]], [[.gov]], [[.mil]] || Limited; [[sTLD|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 [[gTLD]]s |
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− | | 1985 || [[.us]], [[.uk]] [[.il]] || ccTLDs || USA, UK, Israel || The second, third, and fourth ccTLDs | + | | 1985 || [[.us]], [[.uk]] [[.il]] || ccTLDs || USA, UK, Israel || GB is the UK's [[ISO 3166]] country code. However, [[JANET NRS]] defined UK as the top-level domain a few months before the ISO-derived list; it was registered on July 24, 1985. |
| |- | | |- |
| | 1986 || [[.au]], [[.de]], [[.fi]], [[.fr]], [[.is]], [[.kr]], [[.nl]], [[.se]] || ccTLDs || Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, South Korea, Netherlands, Sweden || The next eight ccTLDs | | | 1986 || [[.au]], [[.de]], [[.fi]], [[.fr]], [[.is]], [[.kr]], [[.nl]], [[.se]] || ccTLDs || Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, South Korea, Netherlands, Sweden || The next eight ccTLDs |
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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
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| |- | | |- |
− | | 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 || || |
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− | | 2005-2007 || [[.cat]], [[.eu]], [[.asia]]|| Sponsored [[geoTLD]]s || 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 |
| |- | | |- |
− | | || [[.jobs]], [[.mobi]], [[.tel]], [[.travel]] || || | + | | 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 || |
| + | |- |
| + | |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 |
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− | | June 20, 2011 || || || || [[ICANN Board]] votes to dramatically increase the number of gTLDs from the 22 already in operation | + | | June 20, 2011 || [[.post]] || sTLD || last TLD before New TLD Program || [[ICANN Board]] votes to dramatically increase the number of gTLDs from the 22 already in operation |
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− | | January 12, 2012 || || [[Community TLD|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 not relevant to this round of nTLDs ||The application window for [[All New gTLD Applications]] opens | + | | January 12, 2012 || || [[Community TLD|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 contest | + | | June 13, 2012 || [[.scot]] || community nTLD application || for Scottish culture || Reveal Day: [[All New gTLD Applications|1,930 applications for new gTLDs submitted]]; '''751''' of which were contested |
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− | | July 15, 2013 || [[.сайт]], [[.онлайн]], [[.شبكة]], [[.游戏]] || -- || -- || First four IDN nTLD aggreements signed | + | | July 15, 2013 || [[.сайт]], [[.онлайн]], [[.شبكة]], [[.游戏]] || [[IDN]] nTLDs || (xn--80aswg) – Russian for "site"; (xn--80asehdb) – Russian for "online"شبكة (xn--ngbc5azd) – Arabic for "web/network"; (xn--unup4y) – Chinese for "game(s)" || First four nTLD aggreements signed |
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− | | November 9, 2014 || -- || -- || -- || 400th gTLD was delegated | + | | September 15, 2014 || [[.prof]] || -- || -- || 400th nTLD was delegated |
| |- | | |- |
| | 20 May 2017 || [[ccTLD]]s || -- || -- || 255 ccTLDs delegated | | | 20 May 2017 || [[ccTLD]]s || -- || -- || 255 ccTLDs delegated |
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| | June 2020 || [[IDN]] ccTLDs || -- || -- || 61 IDN ccTLDs approved | | | June 2020 || [[IDN]] ccTLDs || -- || -- || 61 IDN ccTLDs approved |
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− | | March 2021 || -- || -- || -- || [[IANA]] lists 1589 TLDs (1503 in use, 67 not assigned/revoked, 8 retired, 11 test domains) | + | | October 17, 2020 || [[.spa]] || nTLD || latest delegated nTLD || [[IANA]] lists 1589 TLDs (1503 in use, 67 not assigned/revoked, 8 retired, 11 test domains) |
| |} | | |} |
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| There are different types of TLDs. | | There are different types of TLDs. |
| ===[[gTLD]]s=== | | ===[[gTLD]]s=== |
| + | *[[gTLD|the original generic top-level domains]] |
| + | *[[sTLD]]s - has a sponsor for a specific purpose, such as to represent a specific ethnic community, professional group, or geographical location. |
| + | *[[All New gTLD Applications|nTLD]]s - domains that were introduced beginning in October 2013 |
| + | *[[community TLD]]s relate to local events, gatherings, organizations, or communities, in essence replacing sTLDs |
| + | *[[geoTLD]]s represent geographical or regional areas that are not countries with three or more ASCII characters. |
| *[[brand TLD]]s - corporations use their corporate name as their website's top-level identifier instead of .com or .biz domain space | | *[[brand TLD]]s - corporations use their corporate name as their website's top-level identifier instead of .com or .biz domain space |
− | *[[community TLD]]s relate to local events, gatherings, or organizations.
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− | *[[geoTLD]]s represent geographical or regional areas that are not countries with three or more ASCII characters.
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| *[[hSTLD]]s | | *[[hSTLD]]s |
− | *[[All New gTLD Applications|nTLD]]s - domains that were introduced beginning in October 2013
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− | *[[sTLD]]s - has a sponsor for a specific purpose, such as to represent a specific ethnic community, professional group, or geographical location.
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− |
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| ===[[ccTLD]]s=== | | ===[[ccTLD]]s=== |
| [[:Category:CcTLD|Country-code TLDs]] are delegated to a designated [[:Category:CcTLD Registry|ccTLD registry]], which is operated by a [[:Category:CcTLD Manager|ccTLD Manager]], according to local policies that are adapted to meet the economic, cultural, linguistic, and legal circumstances of the country or territory involved. | | [[:Category:CcTLD|Country-code TLDs]] are delegated to a designated [[:Category:CcTLD Registry|ccTLD registry]], which is operated by a [[:Category:CcTLD Manager|ccTLD Manager]], according to local policies that are adapted to meet the economic, cultural, linguistic, and legal circumstances of the country or territory involved. |
| *[[ccTLD|ccTLDs with ASCII characters]] | | *[[ccTLD|ccTLDs with ASCII characters]] |
− | :TLDs with two ASCII characters have been established for over 250 countries and external territories. | + | :TLDs with two ASCII characters have been established for over 250 countries and external territories, including Strings eligible under [[ICANN Board]] Resolution 00.74 (currently this category applies to only one domain, .eu) [https://features.icann.org/2000-09-25-delegation-cctlds ICANN - Board Resolution on the Delegation of ccTLDs], and "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); |
| *[[IDN ccTLD]]s | | *[[IDN ccTLD]]s |
| :TLDs with non-ASCII characters designated for a country or geographic region. | | :TLDs with non-ASCII characters designated for a country or geographic region. |
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| ==Reserved Names== | | ==Reserved Names== |
− | * country code top-level domains | + | Some domain names are reserved, which means they can only be used (if at all) by the [[:Category:Entities|entities]] for whom they are reserved. |
− | * related to ICANN | + | * [[ccTLDs|country code top-level domains]] |
− | * related to IANA functions | + | * [[ICANN|related to ICANN]] |
− | * names of countries and territories | + | * [[IANA|related to IANA functions]] |
− | * names of international and intergovernmental organizations | + | * [[:Category:Government|names of countries and territories]] |
− | * names that a registry operator uses to operate the gTLD | + | * [[:Category:Organizations|names of international and intergovernmental organizations]] |
| + | * [[:Category:registries|names that a registry operator uses to operate the gTLD]] |
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| __NOTOC__ | | __NOTOC__ |
| [[Category: Glossary]] | | [[Category: Glossary]] |
− | [[Category: Acronym]]
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