Top-Level Domain: Difference between revisions
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The '''T'''op '''L'''evel '''D'''omain ('''TLD''') is always the last part of a domain name, such as [[.com]], [[.net]], [[.us]], etc.<ref>[http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=TLD&i=52942,00.asp TLD]</ref> Each TLD is managed by a single [[:Category:Registries|Registry]]. | |||
==History== | ==History== | ||
The need for a hierarchical [[DNS]] arose with the popularity of the Internet in academic spheres in the early 1980s | The need for a hierarchical [[DNS]] arose with the popularity of the Internet in academic spheres in the early 1980s, which eventually necessitated a de-centralized Internet. Communications between [[The Stanford Research Institute NIC]] and other institutions included plans to create a hierarchical [[DNS]], found in [http://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc805.txt RFC 805], a group document from 1982. This document outlines many of the basics of the eventual [[DNS]], including the need for [[TLD]]s to provide a fixed starting point for queries, and the need for [[SLD]]s to be unique. This, in turn, would necessitate the need for a [[registrar]] type of administration, and help the nascent [[IT]] community recognize that the distribution of responsibility for each domain to individual name servers would provide administrative advantages.<ref>[http://www.livinginternet.com/i/iw_dns_history.htm Living Internet]</ref> | ||
==Varieties of TLDs== | ==Varieties of TLDs== | ||
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* Operating Mode | * Operating Mode | ||
**Open - Operating and offering both registration and resolution services. | **Open - Operating and offering both registration and resolution services. | ||
**Closed - Not | **Closed - Not accepting registrations, may be resolving evergreen/legacy/infrastructure subdomains. | ||
* Level of Restriction | * Level of Restriction | ||
**Unrestricted - If there are no requirements that must be met in order to register a name under a TLD, that TLD is Unrestricted. | **Unrestricted - If there are no requirements that must be met in order to register a name under a TLD, that TLD is Unrestricted. | ||
Revision as of 03:14, 15 February 2011
The Top Level Domain (TLD) is always the last part of a domain name, such as .com, .net, .us, etc.[1] Each TLD is managed by a single Registry.
History[edit | edit source]
The need for a hierarchical DNS arose with the popularity of the Internet in academic spheres in the early 1980s, which eventually necessitated a de-centralized Internet. Communications between The Stanford Research Institute NIC and other institutions included plans to create a hierarchical DNS, found in RFC 805, a group document from 1982. This document outlines many of the basics of the eventual DNS, including the need for TLDs to provide a fixed starting point for queries, and the need for SLDs to be unique. This, in turn, would necessitate the need for a registrar type of administration, and help the nascent IT community recognize that the distribution of responsibility for each domain to individual name servers would provide administrative advantages.[2]
Varieties of TLDs[edit | edit source]
There are different types of TLDs.
These TLDs operate in different manners, and can be categorized in some simple ways:
- Operating Mode
- Open - Operating and offering both registration and resolution services.
- Closed - Not accepting registrations, may be resolving evergreen/legacy/infrastructure subdomains.
- Level of Restriction
- 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 be met to qualify in order to provision a name.
- Sponsored - A variation on Restricted, the applicant for a domain in an STLD must meet the requirements within that TLD (ie. .jobs would require that Human Resources be involved, .travel would require certain Travel criteria are met, etc).
Innovations[edit | edit source]
At its Seoul conference in 2009, ICANN approved the IDN ccTLD fast track process, which made way for ccTLDs to be written in non-latin characters. Russia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates are some of the first countries to advance in the application and implementation process.[3]