Top-level domain

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

DNS schema

Top-level domain

A top-level domain (TLD) is one of the domains at the highest level in the hierarchical Domain Name System (DNS) of the Internet. The top-level domain names are installed in the root zone of the name space. For all domains in lower levels, the TLD is the last part of the domain name, that is, the last label of a fully qualified domain name. For example, in the domain name www.example.com, the top-level domain is .com.

Types of TLDs[edit | edit source]

Top-level domains are mainly classified into three types:

  • Country code top-level domains (ccTLDs): These are two-letter domains established for countries or territories, such as .uk for the United Kingdom and .jp for Japan.
  • Generic top-level domains (gTLDs): These are the most common type of TLDs and include domains such as .com, .org, and .net.
  • Sponsored top-level domains (sTLDs): These are specialized TLDs that have a sponsor representing a specific community that is served by the domain, such as .edu for educational institutions and .gov for governmental entities.

History[edit | edit source]

The concept of TLDs was first introduced in the early 1980s. The original set of TLDs included .com, .org, .net, .edu, .gov, .mil, and .arpa. Over time, the number of TLDs has expanded significantly to include hundreds of new gTLDs and ccTLDs.

Management[edit | edit source]

The management of TLDs is overseen by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which is responsible for coordinating the maintenance and procedures of several databases related to the namespaces of the Internet, ensuring the network's stable and secure operation.

Registration[edit | edit source]

Domain names within a TLD are registered through domain name registrars, which are accredited by ICANN. Each TLD has an authoritative registry that manages the database of domain names registered under that TLD.

Examples of TLDs[edit | edit source]

  • .com - Commercial entities
  • .org - Organizations (non-profit)
  • .net - Network infrastructure
  • .edu - Educational institutions
  • .gov - Governmental entities
  • .mil - Military
  • .uk - United Kingdom
  • .jp - Japan

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

Stub icon

This Internet-related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it.

WikiMD
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Retrieved from "https://wikimd.com/w/index.php?title=Top-level_domain&oldid=5833634"

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD