Difference between revisions of "Top-Level Domain"

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The '''Top Level Domain'''  ('''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]].
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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]].
  
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==History==
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==Varieties of TLDs==  
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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>
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There are different types of TLDs.
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===[[gTLD]]s===
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*[[brand TLD]]s - corporations use their corporate name as their website's top-level identifier instead of .com or .biz domain space
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*[[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
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*[[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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==Varieties of TLDs==
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===[[ccTLD]]s===
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There are different types of TLDs.
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[[: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.
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*[[ccTLD|ccTLDs with ASCII characters]]
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:TLDs with two ASCII characters have been established for over 250 countries and external territories.
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*[[IDN ccTLD]]s
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:TLDs with non-ASCII characters designated for a country or geographic region.
  
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* [[GTLD]]s, which includes [[STLD]]s
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==Operating Mode==
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* [[ccTLD]]s
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TLDs operate in different manners but can be categorized in some simple ways:
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* Open - Operating and offering both registration and resolution services.
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* Closed - Not accepting registrations, may be resolving evergreen/legacy/infrastructure subdomains.
  
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These TLDs operate in different manners, and can be categorized in some simple ways:
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==Level of Restriction==
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* Unrestricted - If there are no requirements that must be met in order to register a name under a TLD, that TLD is Unrestricted.
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* Restricted - Requiring Local Physical Address, Local Tax ID, or other specific criteria to qualify.
  
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* Operating Mode
 
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**Open - Operating and offering both registration and resolution services.
 
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**Closed - Not accepting registrations, may be resolving evergreen/legacy/infrastructure subdomains.
 
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* Level of Restriction
 
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**Unrestricted - If there are no requirements that must be met in order to register a name under a TLD, that TLD is Unrestricted.
 
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**Restricted - Requiring Local Physical Address, Local Tax ID, or other specific criteria be met to qualify in order to provision a name.
 
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**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).
 
  
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==Innovations==
 
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At its Seoul conference in 2009, [[ICANN]] approved the [[IDN]] [[ccTLD]] fast track process, which made way for [[ccTLD]]s 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.<ref>[http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978296758 Gather.com]</ref>
 
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==References==
 
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{{reflist}}
 
  
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== Related Articles ==
 
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*  [[Registry Constituency]]
 
 
__NOTOC__
 
__NOTOC__
 
[[Category: Glossary]]
 
[[Category: Glossary]]
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[[Category: Acronym]]

Revision as of 17:07, 24 February 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 its top-level domain (TLD), and every TLD is managed by a single registry.

Varieties of TLDs

There are different types of TLDs.

gTLDs

  • 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

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

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

  • 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.
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