Domain extensions are something the average user doesn’t think about, but they all subconsciously think of one when they enter a URL, and that’s “.com”. Most people assume every website ends with “.com” and that’s because most major ones do.
That said, there are hundreds of domain extensions you can choose to use for your website, yet, almost everyone is striving for “.com”, due to the public perception behind it.
Today, we are going to discuss why that is the case, and what domain extensions do for your site.
What Are Domain Extensions?
A domain extension is the last part of the domain name, which is the characters that follow the period. For example, the domain extension of GreenGeeks.com is “.com” and the extension of WhiteHouse.gov is “.gov“.
When the Internet first started, there were just six domain extensions which included:
- .COM (commercial)
- .ORG (organization)
- .NET (network)
- .EDU (education)
- .GOV (government)
- .MIL (military)
However, as the internet accurate mobile phone number list grew and the number of websites that needed a unique domain name expanded at a tremendous rate, so did the number of domain extensions.
Today, there are over 1600 domain extensions that you can choose from.
How Domain Extensions Work
There are essentially three parts to the most complete tuition fees at binawan university a domain name; a Subdomain, a Second-Level Domain, and a Top-Level Domain. However, it can be broken down even further, so let’s take a look.
Subdomain
A Subdomain is a domain that is a part of a larger domain under the Domain Name System (DNS) hierarchy. Subdomains are used as an easy way to create a more memorable web address for specific or unique content with a website.
For example, you could use a Subdomain to make it easier for users to remember and navigate to the picture gallery of a site by placing it in the address gallery.example.com, as opposed to example.com/media/gallery.
In this example, the Subdomain is gallery.example, whereas the main domain is example.com. You may also hear a Subdomain referred to as a “child domain.”
Second-Level Domain
A Second-Level Domain (SLD) is a specific part of a website, page domain name, or URL address that complements a Top-Level Domain.
One of the easiest ways to define a Second-Level Domain is that it consists of that portion of the domain name to the left of the “.COM” or other similar extensions, which is called a Top-Level Domain.
Analysis of the Top-Level and Second-Level domains helps to analyze a URL or page address.
Top-Level Domain or TLD
A Top-Level Domain, or TLD, is a term you may have come across before while you were trying to search for that perfect domain name. TLD is just a fancy term for your domain name’s extension.
The domain name extension is the aqb directory letters to the right of your Second-Level Domain. An easy example of this is .COM or .ORG. When someone is referring to a TLD they are referring to the extension only.
Generic Top-Level Domain or gTLD
A Generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD), refers to domain extensions that are generic in nature. Google recognizes these as generic and you can feel free to register them all for your business or personal domain name.
Some of the common ones you will find are .XYZ, .ONLINE, etc. There are literally hundreds so good luck!
Country-Code Top-Level Domain, or ccTLD
A Country-Code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD), refers to custom domain extensions that are region or country-specific domains. An easy and popular example of this would be something like .CA (Canada) or .JP (Japan).
Undoubtedly, you have seen these before online or even visited a site with a Country-Code Domain.
Sponsored Top-Level Domain or sTLD
A Sponsored Top-Level Domain (sTLD) is used by specific niches and is not allowed for use by the general population or general customers. Two of the more recognizable are .GOV and .EDU.
The .GOV domain is only available and in use by the American government. The .EDU domain is an extension that is only available to postsecondary education institutions and related organizations for registration.
In order to be eligible to use this domain extension, said institution must be located in the United States, legally organized in the U.S., or recognized by a U.S. state, territorial, or federal agency.