.net
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| Status: | Active |
| country: | International |
| Manager: | Verisign |
| Registry Provider: | Verisign |
| Type: | 1985 |
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.net is a generic top-level domain in the Internet Domain Name System managed and operated by Verisign, a recognized leader in internet security and performance structure.[1]
.net was originally intended for internet-referential purposes, though there are no current restrictions limiting it to certain entities. It was introduced in 1985 by IANA, which is responsible for the overall coordination and management of the DNS; the organization was led by Jon Postel at the time. On January 28, 1986, the entities overseeing the DNS met and restructured its makeup to correspond to 8 TLDs, including .net, the others are: .gov (government), .edu (American higher education), .mil (American military), .org (organization), .int (international, specifically NATO relations), .com (commercial purposes), .bitnet (computers on the BITNET network).[2][3]
ICANN approved the application of Verisign as registry operator of the .net top-level domain name on May 25, 2001.[4]
At present, .net is the world's third largest top-level domain.[5]